Recycle your wrapping paper
How to recycle your wrapping paper
- remove any ribbons or bows
- give your wrapping paper the scrunch test
- if your wrapping paper stays scrunched, pop it in your green recycling box with your cardboard
What to do with wrapping paper that does not pass the scrunch test
If your wrapping paper bounces back when scrunched, it contains foil or plastic cannot be recycled.
Please put it in your black bin.
What to do with ribbons and bows
Try to reuse ribbons and bows if you can.
If they cannot be reused, please put them in your black bin.
Please do not use your paper sack for wrapping paper
Wrapping paper is low quality and cannot be recycled with your normal paper recycling.
Sustainable alternatives to wrapping paper
There are a few alternatives you could consider, here are a few:
- gift bags or boxes which can be reused
- brown paper
- wrapping with fabric
Please see Recycle Devon's guide to wrapping paper alternatives for more information.
Find out what happens to the wrapping paper we recycle
Wrapping paper is collected with cardboard and sent to Kent or mainland Europe. It is then made into a pulp before being used to make new boxes and packaging.
See this video of the paper and cardboard recycling process for further information.