Holiday Challenge #2: Gift Wrap

Five days till Christmas! If you’re celebrating, have you wrapped your gifts yet? For one small change to try this year, why not aim to reduce waste when packaging up your presents?

While glitter, foil paper, or bows can add a certain festive flair, this type of décor cannot be recycled. In fact, things like glitter can contaminate other materials because—as you most certainly know—it gets EVERYWHERE. (Even just a little bit on the front of a card seems to find its way into everything, honestly.)

When wrapping gifts, consider what happens to the packaging afterward. You can help out your recipients by choosing recyclable or reusable materials. With any luck, they’ll do the same for you!


Here are some great choices for holiday recycling because they can all go in your curbside RECYCLING cart:

  • 100% paper wrapping paper (for an alternative to store-bought patterns, try brown kraft paper or even newspaper!)
  • Tissue paper
  • Paper gift bags (fabric handles, metal grommets, and decorations removed)
  • Paper greeting cards (without glitter, music, or recorded greetings)
  • Paper basket filler from a gift basket

Plus: natural decorations on top of your gift, like holly, cedar, or pinecones, can go in the compost cart, as long as there aren’t contaminants like glitter or ribbon on them. You can also try making your packaging part of the gift by wrapping gifts in other gifts, like a Christmas tea towel or scarf.

Here are some items you can recycle elsewhere:

  • Holiday string lights (see last Monday’s post for more on this topic)
  • Some types of foam packaging (more about foam later this week)
  • Batteries (Do Your Part Recycling, City Hall, Staples, and many other locations around town accept batteries; check our website for a full list)

Here are items you will have to reuse if possible or throw in your curbside GARBAGE cart:

  • Foil or plastic wrapping paper
  • Ribbons and bows
  • Foil gift bags or bags with non-paper decorations
  • Rope handles and grommets from all gift bags
  • Glittery cards or battery-powered cards that play music or recorded greetings
  • Cellophane wrap for gift baskets and the gift baskets themselves

Hot tip: Don’t write on gift bags or gift bag tags so that your recipient can reuse the gift bag next year.

Thanks for doing your part to reduce waste this holiday season.

recycle@terrace.ca | 250-615-4019

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