How to Make Recycled Crayons With Chocolate Molds

Broken wax crayons can be recycled into a fun new product.

In this age of recycling and planet-friendly awareness, we all try to think of practical ways to re-use and renew worn and used items. If you have children, then chances are you have a bucket full of used wax crayon bits, pieces and nubs. One creative way to recycle is to make new crayons from old crayons. This is a fun activity that children can participate in and it will save you a few dollars as a bonus.

Things You'll Need

• Broken wax crayons
• Tin can
• Water
• Sauce pan
• Silicone chocolate molds
• Cookie sheet

Instructions

1. Prepare the broken pieces of crayon by peeling off any bits of paper that are on them. Ask the kids to help with this part of the project; small children will enjoy being able to contribute their efforts and it will make the work go faster. Sort the crayons in piles by color. It is okay to mix light blue with dark blue or light pink with dark pink and red.

2. Put one color pile of crayon pieces into an empty tin can. Put a few inches of water in a saucepan and start to warm the water on low to medium heat. Place the can of broken crayons in the warming water. Remove the can from the heat when the wax crayons are fully melted.

3. Pour the melted crayons into chocolate molds to cool. Repeat the process with the next color, until all the piles have been melted and poured into the molds. Place the new crayons in the refrigerator to cool them faster, until they are completely hard. The length of time it takes for the wax to set depends on the size of your molds. Gently pop the new crayons out of the molds and they are ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• Another method you can use is to fill the chocolate molds with unmelted crayon pieces. Use silicone molds that won't melt. Place the filled molds onto a cookie sheet, and bake them in the oven at 350 F for about ten minutes. When you use this method you can mix the colors to create multicolored crayons. Cool them in the refrigerator.

References

• Kids Quest Children's Museum: How to Make Recycled Melty Crayons: Alison Lewis
• Girl Scouts: Cookie Cutter Crayons