GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – After the gifts are unwrapped and the celebrations wind down, many homes are left with piles upon piles of wrapping paper, boxes and ribbons.
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It may seem beneficial to toss all those materials into a recycling bin; however, that’s not the best option. Experts say not all holiday wrapping paper is recyclable, and recycling the wrong materials can do more harm than good.
According to Waste Management, plain paper wrappings without any forms of coatings or glitter are typically recyclable. A quick test is to crumple the paper; if it stays crumpled, it’s likely just paper, but if it springs back, it’s probably more than just paper.
While they’re visually appealing, shiny, glitter-covered and metallic papers are not recyclable. The decorative finishes are usually made with aluminum or plastic layers, which can’t be processed at a typical facility. This also applies to papers with heavy dyes or embedded textures…