Behind almost every family full of kids chaotically ripping into their presents is a well-meaning adult with a garbage bag trying to gather up all the discarded wrapping paper before everyone is buried. But should that bag be accompanied by a recycling bin? Or will all the Christmas glitz and glam contaminate the process?
Before you start opening holiday gifts, here is some advice for figuring out what you can and cannot save from the landfill.
Keep the bling out of the bin
Wrapping paper that is just that – paper – can go in the recycling bin. However, this time a year, there are often additives such as foil and glitter that cannot be recycled. If your gift wrap includes any of this, put it in the trash bag. Also, keep an eye out for heavy laminations.
This also applies to holiday cards and cardboard gift boxes. Those with glitter and other embellishments should go in the trash, and those that are plain can be recycled.
The Scrunch Test
The most common “test” you will see on the internet to determine if the paper used for your wrapping is the kind that can go into the recycling bin is the “scrunch test.” Simply squeeze the paper into a ball. If it stays a ball, it’s recyclable paper. If it unfurls itself, it mostly likely has materials that could contaminate the load.
Keep out the extras
Bows and ribbon should stay out of the recycling bin. Besides the fact they are probably not made of recyclable material, they can also tangle up the equipment! When possible, tape and other decorations should be removed from wrapping paper before it is put in your bin.
An extra that can go in the recycling bin is the cardboard tube that the wrapping paper came in (after your kids have finished using it for a sword fight, of course).
Gift bags
While gift bags are a convenient and time-saving way to wrap gifts – many of them are not recyclable. Brown, kraft paper bags, can be recycled if you remove the handles. However, all other colorful or embellished bags cannot. Before you throw a gift bag in the trash, remember that this is one of the easiest holiday wrapping items to re-use! You can help divert it from the landfill by saving it for next year!
Tissue paper is technically recyclable, but not all processing facilities accept it. This is one item that could potentially contaminate a load, so it is best to avoid adding it to the bin.
Plain is best
Julie Andrews once sang to us about how “brown paper packages, tied up with string” were among her favorite things – they should be ours too! Plain, brown kraft paper is the most eco-friendly way to wrap.
Other eco-friendly gift-wrapping ideas include:
- Using recycled cloth from around your home.
- Use your paper grocery bags
- Re-use your paper or newspaper
- Give a gift in an old mason jar
By trying some alternative wrapping ideas, along with putting as much wrapping paper as we can in the recycle bin, we can continue to reduce the amount of trash we are sending to the landfill this holiday season.
The Lenawee County Recycling Drop-Off Site at 307 River St. in Adrian will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday, but will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 26.