Wrapping Paper
Gifts wrapped in re-usable bags, boxes, comics and brown paper (along with a borrowed tree)
Over 90% of Australian households have access to kerbside recycling collections, so ensure that you're putting your used wrapping paper and greeting cards into your household recycling bin.
There are also lots of other clever ways to avoid, reduce and re-use wrapping paper:
- When giving over-sized gifts like bicycles, tie a bow around them instead of wrapping them in paper.
- Wrap gifts in old maps, newspapers, Sunday comics or old sheets of music
- Alternatively use brown paper and a colourful bow.
- Kids' artwork is a perfect wrapping for presents to proud grandparents.
- Wrap presents in a new scarf, bandanna, calico bag or tea towel.
- Give gifts in baskets, tins or jars, which can be re-used.
- Save bows, ribbons and paper to reuse next year.
- If you do buy gift-wrap, look for recycled paper options. Avoid using foil-wrap as it isn't recyclable.
- Before putting paper wrapping paper and cards in your kerbside collection bins, make sure you take out any non-recyclables like plastic or foil wrapping and ribbons.
More eco-ideas
For other green tips over the festive season, download the Festive Green Guide as a pdf or podcast below.
- (click the button to play or download) Festive Recycling Podcast (10.44MB)
- Festive Season Green Guide (725kb pdf file)
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