Gift the aftermath of the holiday to your blue bin

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Published Date 12/26/2023

First, there was the mountain of gifts. Now? All that remains is a mountain of wrapping paper and all that accompanies it — a colorful assortment of bows, ribbon, twine, and little decorations that made each gift so special under the tree.

So the next question is — now what? Are there proper recycling protocols – especially for paper products, the most recycled material in the U.S.?

USAToday’s Wyatte Grantham-Philips says there are, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And that you can do your part during the holiday season by recycling paper-based products at home. She refers to the phenomenon of "wishcycling" — the act of putting something in the recycling bin in the hopes that someone else will figure out what to do with it.

Take heart. Not everything can go in those blue bins. Glue, ribbons and glitter-dusted decorations can clog the recycling process, making most non-paper products tossable or reusable.

So how do you pack up this season's festivities in a sustainable way? Recycle? Reuse? Or trash? Well for one, plain wrapping paper can be recycled, but sheets with foil, glitter and plastic or poly coatings cannot. In some cities, there are special programs for the collection or drop-off of wrapping paper.

There’s also the idea of reusing wrapping paper that can't be recycled. If Christmas morning leaves it beyond repair, trash it.

As for recycling those gift bags, it’s pretty much like it is for wrapping paper. Plain paper bags can be put in the recycling bin – but not bags made with plastic, foil, or fabric. And if a paper bag has rope handles, beads, or other non-paper decorative elements, remove them before recycling.

Ribbons and bows are not accepted at recycling bins. The decorations can clog production at recycling plants, making them shut down all the equipment so they can get in and cut out all the junk. When ribbons and bows are too ugly to reuse, trash them. Otherwise, save them for next year – tape can be a perfect substitute adhesive.

And what about all those holiday cards? “According to the American Forest and Paper Association, cards and envelopes made of paper can be recycled. But those with glitter, plastic, or metallic accents should be tossed in the trash,” says Grantham-Philips.

For all those gifts ordered online, don’t forget to recycle those cardboard boxes properly. Flatten and remove non-paper pacing materials. Packing peanuts and bubble wrap are not recyclable. And unflattened boxes take up more room in recycling trucks – causing crews to make more trips.

USAToday, TBWS

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