The holiday season is a time of fun with family, celebration, and of course, gift-giving. As you exchange presents with your loved ones, your home can quickly become filled with mountains of wrapping paper and packaging. While it’s wonderful to see the excitement of opening gifts, it’s also essential to consider the environmental impact of all that holiday waste. So how can you make your holiday celebrations a little more eco-friendly? Mr. Clean Can has lots of tips he’s happy to share with you below!

Reuse and Repurpose

Before you throw anything away, consider reusing or repurposing wrapping paper and packaging materials. Gently unwrap gifts to preserve the paper, and fold it neatly for future use. You can also use old wrapping paper for crafting projects, scrapbooking, or making homemade cards. Similarly, packaging materials like bubble wrap and tissue paper can be saved for future shipments or for wrapping up those Christmas ornaments for safekeeping until next year!

Recycle

Not all wrapping paper is recyclable. Some contain metallic or glossy finishes that can’t be processed in recycling facilities. To check if your wrapping paper is recyclable, try the “scrunch test.” If you can scrunch it into a ball and it stays that way, it’s likely recyclable. If it stays flat or resists scrunching, it may contain non-recyclable materials. Remove any non-paper items (like ribbons and bows) and then recycle the paper with your curbside recycling or at a local drop-off center.

Upcycle

Holiday greeting cards often come with beautiful designs and heartfelt messages. Instead of tossing them, consider upcycling them into gift tags for next year’s presents. Simply cut out the front cover of old cards and use a hole punch to create a hole for a ribbon or string. Now you have unique gift tags for next year’s presents, and you’re helping the environment!

Reduce

When shopping for gifts, choose products with very little packaging, or packaging made from recyclable materials. You can also reduce packaging waste by choosing reusable gift bags or cloth wrapping, which not only looks beautiful but also eliminates the need for disposable wrapping paper.

Dispose Responsibly

As mentioned above, some holiday waste, such as metallic or foil wrapping paper, may not be recyclable. In such cases, it’s important to dispose of them responsibly. Check with your local waste management guidelines to find out the best way to dispose of non-recyclable materials without harming the environment.

As this holiday season comes to an end, remember that eco-friendly clean-up is just as important as the gifts you’re giving and receiving. By reusing, recycling, and upcycling wrapping paper and packaging materials, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your holiday festivities. At Clean Cans, we’re advocates for responsible waste management, and we hope Mr. Clean Can’s tips help you contribute to making our planet a little greener during the holidays and beyond!