The City is encouraging citizens to prefer re-usable or recyclable gift wrap and gifts that come with less packaging.
“Don’t buy garbage when you buy your gifts. Buy gifts with less packaging. Less packaging means less garbage,” says John Giles, Manager of Solid Waste. “Certain kinds of packaging are recyclable, such as boxboard, plain paper and cardboard, so keep that in mind, too.”
Conventional wrapping paper cannot be recycled because it contains too much coloured ink and dye and is a fire hazard if burned (because it reaches too high a temperature too quickly) – which means most wrapping paper is garbage and ends up in landfill.
Wrapping presents is all about the moment of surprise when the gift is revealed. Using a recyclable or reusable wrap offers an opportunity to add thoughtfulness and/or surprise to your gift. Try one of these ideas to give your gifts a good wrap:
– Fabric or paper gift bags that can be re-used.
– Brown paper wrapping. Get your kids to draw on it to dress it up (painted paper cannot be recycled). The paper can then be recycled.
– Gift boxes.
– Make the wrap part of the gift: wrap a piece of jewellery inside a new pair of socks, hide a pair of slippers inside pyjamas, pillow case or sheet, or roll a new kitchen gizmo in a table-cloth.
– Use newspaper – the comics section or the crossword puzzles make a great wrap.
– Get really creative: wrap gifts in old calendars, magazines, road or marine maps – choose a recyclable wrap that speaks to the personality of the gift’s recipient.
These Trim Your Waste tips are available at www.cityofkingston.ca/goodwrap
———————————————————————————————–
Photo courtesy Premier Packaging
