Dear Recycle Lady,
This year, I am trying to wrap all my gifts in recyclable wrapping paper as I want to be more aware of the environment and waste. Does this recyclable wrapping paper go in the newspaper or magazine bin? Gift Wrapper
Dear Gift Wrapper,
Kudos for being aware of the environment and waste. If more people paid attention to these two things, we would have a healthier environment and less waste in our landfills.
Although the label on your wrapping paper says it is recyclable, the Recycle Center is unable to recycle it as it is impossible to distinguish recyclable wrapping paper from nonrecyclable wrapping paper. Plus, the fibers of recycled wrapping paper are too short to be used again.
Another reason that wrapping paper is not recyclable is that it is not made of just paper. It is often coated with a plastic film that makes it shiny and more sturdy for wrapping, and it may have a shiny adhesive on it as well. Foil, glitter-covered and flocked wrapping papers aren’t recyclable because they contain plastics, metallic coatings and other materials that standard recycling systems can’t process. Even small amounts of glitter or metallics are a contaminant in the recycling stream.
Unwrapping Christmas gifts is one of our beloved Christmas traditions. But it is also one of the most wasteful parts of our holiday traditions. According to Better Homes & Gardens, an average of 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper is sent to landfills every year.
You can lengthen the life of your used wrapping paper, recyclable or not, by rolling it on a cardboard tube so that it is ready to be reused next year. Have you tried reusable gift bags? Most of these bags aren’t recyclable either, but they can be used several times before being put in the trash. If your recyclable wrapping paper is biodegradable or a hemp blend, it can be added to your compost pile or bin.
There are several alternatives for packaging besides commercial wrapping paper, such as decorative tin boxes, reusable shopping bags, cloth bags, tablecloths or decorative baskets. Dish towels, pretty scarves or other cloth objects turn the wrapping into an additional gift. Leftover fabrics can be made into wonderful gift bags of various sizes or shapes, and newspapers, especially the comics, can also be used to wrap gifts.
If you are looking for some new ways to wrap gifts, the website https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1053/gift-wrapping-ideas/ has some very creative ideas.
Dear Recycle Lady,
The box that my amaryllis Christmas flower came in seems to be made of a very shiny cardboard. Can it be recycled? Love the Flower
Dear Love the Flower,
Yes, very shiny cardboard can be recycled with regular cardboard. Many other products come in shiny boxes, such as toothpaste, cosmetics and OTC supplements.
If the box has a lining or is waxed, it can’t be recycled. If you think a box might be waxed, rather than just be shiny, run your fingernail down the side of it. If wax comes off, it is not recyclable.
Bad News: Plastic cutting boards release microplastics into your food and can dull your knives. Use your plastic cutting board as a surface protector for crafts and purchase a titanium, wooden or bamboo board.
Greenbrier County has a talented craftsman who sells beautiful wooden cutting boards at the local Farmer’s Market. The boards are made of cherry, maple, walnut or a combination of several woods.
Have questions about recycling or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to Recyclelady7@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
