Paper recycling has become a big part of Christmas, whether you take your old Christmas cards to a supermarket collection point or just try to crush everything into your domestic recycling bin for kerbside collection.
Although paper cannot be recycled indefinitely, as the fibres degrade, using recycled paper is kinder on the environment and relieves the strain on sustainable forests, and it’s always worth putting used paper in the recycling bin if possible.
Here are some top tips on ways you can recycle packaging and wrapping paper this Christmas…
1. Cards and envelopes
It’s OK to want to keep Christmas cards for sentimental reasons, but you don’t need every envelope. Recycle smaller envelopes immediately and just keep the biggest one to store all the year’s cards together.
When buying Christmas cards, check the back of the card or packaging to see if they are made from recycled cardboard – buying recycled is just as important in closed-loop paper recycling as how you dispose of the cards you receive.
To recycle even more, consider scrapbooking your cards – keeping the front design and cutting out the personal message written inside, and sticking them into a keepsake book, while recycling any blank sections.
2. Wrapping paper
Again, think about what you use as well as what you throw away – holographic, metallic and foil wrapping paper may not be recyclable, depending on exactly what it is made of.
Most ordinary wrapping paper should be recyclable, but you might want to consider using tissue paper as a lightweight option, if your presents won’t be subject to any rough handling before being opened.
When throwing wrapping paper away, try to make sure you collect paper separately from decorations like ribbons, bows, and plastic sticky tape.
3. Cardboard packaging
Most of us will have at least some packaging to dispose of after Christmas, so give some thought to what can be recycled – for example in boxes with a ‘window’, you should tear out the plastic film if possible, rather than putting it in paper recycling along with the cardboard part of the box.
Break boxes down flat and fold, tear or (carefully) cut them into smaller pieces to maximise capacity in your recycling bin – flat paper and card will usually take up less space than loosely folded or crumpled pieces.
And when packaging parcels of gifts to give to others, make them easily recyclable – cardboard boxes can be decorated with wrapping paper of course, but if you are going to use foil, make it easy to remove so the card can be recycled.
4. Reduce and reuse
Remember, reducing the amount of paper you use this Christmas will mean less to recycle – so you might want to consider sending e-cards or making a phone or webcam call to long-distance friends and family as an even more personal alternative to paper cards.
Traditional handmade gifts, clothing and plenty of other presents typically come with little to no packaging, allowing you to wrap them up as you wish with the minimum of paper waste – which all helps to leave more room in your bins until the first collection date after Christmas.
