What to do with finished votive candles?

[ServantofChristos]

I have two prayer candles that are empty. One for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the other for The Blessed Virgin Mary. I don’t want to throw them away because I feel that it’s disrespectful but I also don’t want them to sit there and collect dust.
Any advice?
Thank you and God Bless.

 

[MaryEstelle2]

If you have a local monastery they will gen. take them and recycle the wax. Als, ask Fater. They will probably add to their collection that will also go back the monastery. Selling candles are how many monasteries support themselves. Peace

 

[TexasWife]

Unless they are blessed it is perfectly fine to throw them out. You could remove and burn the holy images if you can/would like but it is not necessary. I burn veladoras nearly constantly and throw the glass in the recycling when they are spent. Sometimes the kids will put flowers they pick into them like a vase and put them out next to the St statues in our garden but I still end up recycling them eventually.

 

[Maximilian75]

If they’re still visibly beautiful, just keep them as reminders of Our Lord and his Mother.

If they wouldn’t work for display, you can take them to a monastery as another poster said, or bury them, as should be done with all broken/defunct sacramentals.