Shipping candles -- are they considered hazardous materials?
Hello! When shipping candles via USPS, do they need to be marked as hazardous materials? When I asked our local post office the first time (several months ago), they said no. When I asked again today, they said yes. I searched the USPS website myself and could not find anything that said candles are considered hazardous materials.
4 comments
wastingtime101
·1 year agoIt depends on the candle ingredients @post-crastinating . Some candles have things like fragrances and coloring made from chemicals considered hazmat. I suggest reviewing USPS pub 52 if you find your candle has hazmat ingredients.
1786davycrockett
·1 year ago@post-crastinating
The closest heading that I could comprehend that candles might be listed under would be under "Flammable Solids" -- but that's quite a stretch, when you consider that anything that might potentially be a burning hazard would include all paper goods (including books and magazines), envelopes, boxes, etc. -- and those are mailed every day of the year, with USPS batting an eye.
So, in opinion, you should be safe in sending candles through the mail.
Just don't light them, first.
post-crastinating
OP1 year agoThank you! Yep, that's the heading that the clerk mentioned to us when I asked today and received the "yes" answer: flammable solids. Is there any downside to being on the safe side and checking "yes" for hazardous materials when I'm shipping candles and purchasing a shipping label on eBay? The clerk said that the price should be the same and that it can still be shipped via USPS Ground Advantage.
iamalwaysright
·1 year agoIf you did that I would think it might spook some USPS handlers into thinking it’s something combustible or something and it might delay the shipping. Just to be clear since I don’t know if there’s any new candle tech, we’re just talking basically wax and a wick, right? Personally I think a candle is perfectly fine, it shouldn’t be any different than shipping crayons.