Un-Wrapping Christmas

Which wrapping paper is recyclable and which isn't? 

Christmas Day is a time of merriment, joy, food, and gifts. Each year it is estimated that Australians use more than 150,000km of wrapping paper each year. This is enough to wrap around the earth’s equator nearly 4 times!!

With so much wrapping paper, what do you do with it afterwards? Here are our top tips on how to recycle your wrapping paper to help stop it from entering the environment.

TOP TIP 1: Cardboard and Paper Wrapping Paper

These can be put straight into the recycling bin! Worried about the sticky tape? Don’t stress sticky tape will be removed during the pulping process when recycled.

TOP TIP 2: Foil and Plastic wrapping Paper

These are not recyclable, so make sure you separate them from the paper that is. Instead, you can re-use this paper or get creative and turn it into a fun craft project.

TOP TIP 3: Cellophane

This can be confusing as there are 2 different types of cellophane! The first type is plastic-based and can’t be recycled and the 2^nd type may be made from cellulose, which is biodegradable and can be chucked in the compost. The best way to test which type you have is either read the packaging or the ‘tear’ test. If you can tear it, it’s cellophane, if it stretches instead it’s plastic!