Don’t trash that Christmas wrap: recycle or reinvent it
Q. Does the Salt Spring Recycling Depot take wrapping paper?
-J.S., Salt Spring Island
A. After the presents have been opened, it can be frightening to stand back and survey the unwrapping aftermath. The cat is in his glory, stalking Christmas guests from beneath his new maze of paper tunnels, but to you, the piles of potential landfill waste is unsettling.
We all know the story, J.S., and I think other islanders are also hoping our local depot takes the stuff.
Good news, the Salt Spring Island Recycling Depot confirms it does takes wrapping paper, but only those truly made of a paper product.
Heavy foil-type gift wrap or those containing plastics are not accepted because they can cause problems during the recycling process. The same goes for ribbons and bows, so these are not accepted either.
The ability of recycling plants to harvest the paper from the so-called wrapping “paper” is complicated by the fact that foil and plastic are often layered or woven into the gift wrap.
To identify a true “paper” wrapping, Salt Spring Recycling Island Depot manager Peter Grant offers a tip: if it’s paper, it will tear, he says.
If non-recyclable materials are tossed into the bins, the depot could end up incurring a sorting fee, so check with staff on duty if you are unsure.
Grant said he pulled out “miles of ribbon” from bins at the depot on Tuesday alone.
The obvious moral of the Christmas wrap conundrum is to quit using store-bought wrapping paper. But you can always count on receiving wrapped gifts from others, thus creative courses of action are handy.
Here are some other tips for what to do with your leftover wrapping (CLICK the red links to see instructions):
• shred it and use for stuffing and packing or as “fluff” in gift bags and gift boxes next year
• save for next year’s gift tags and cards
• put gift wrap in a frame or wrap old paint canvases, wood blocks or old wall art and display for New Year’s or as seasonal decor next year
• kids’ art projects (i.e. paper snowflakes, clothes for paper dolls, paper mache)
• cut into squares and try your hand at origami
• iron it on a low setting (paper only) and use it for scrapbook backgrounds
• make book covers or bookmarks
Add your own suggestions for wrap re-use in the “leave a reply” box below.
Click here to see the Salt Spring Recycling Depot holiday hours of operation.
