Before we get into recycling, it’s always good to remember that recycling is the third option in reduce, reuse, recycle. So when you're getting ready to wrap gifts keep that in mind. Instead of buying a new fancy pack of gift wrap, consider using what you already have: think previously used gift wrap, boxes, and bags, newspaper comics, or old maps and calendars. If that look isn’t for you, here are some other creative ideas.
But no matter what you use, the key thing to remember is that not all gift wrap is recyclable. If the gift wrap behaves like paper — even if it's shiny — it can go into home recycling bins. This is similar material to what we find in magazines so it is accepted. But wrap that is foil, has glitter, or is plastic-coated paper must go in the trash if you can't reuse it. Same goes for bows and ribbons if you can't salvage them for re-use.
A great way to tell if your gift wrap is recyclable is trying the “scrunch test”. If you can crumple it into a ball and it stays scrunched up, it’s good to go in the blue bin. If it opens back up, it goes in the trash. That video with Santa holding some wrapping paper illustrates this perfectly.
Tissue paper, and paper gift bags are recyclable as long as they don't have pieces of glitter, foil, metal, or plastic. If paper has metallic ink, that is ok, and it is still recyclable. Bows & ribbons are garbage, although this is a great time to save items for reuse!
Styrofoam, packing peanuts and plastic packaging cannot be recycled at the curb – even if you see a recycling symbol on them. If you can't reuse it and you have the space, consider saving it for our biannual recycling events.
Have a stack of holiday cards from friends and family? Consider using them next year as gift tags or place setting cards. Just remember that cards embossed with foil or other non-paper material, such as photos, go in the garbage if you can't reuse them.
Looking for more ideas on how to cut holiday waste? Metro has plenty of helpful tips on their website as well as their very helpful Recycle or Not Instagram page.