Do you Recycle Holiday Gift Wrap?

Question

Seniors (or anyone reading) do you recycle gift wrap, boxes? Anything else?

Answer 1

I give all the reusable things to a Daycare Centre (Creche) for the children to use in art lessons etc. The Christmas cards are very popular. Theycut out the pictures and glue them onto their own 'masterpieces'.

Answer 2

Not always; but I do try to reuse at least some of the wrappings. I buy wrapping paper that uses recycled paper when I can find it, but I rarely reuse the wrapping paper....although reading the answers has given me an idea to iron the paper....;)

I do reuse bags and boxes. Some of our gift bags have been used for 5 years. I have some boxes that we've used for 3 or 4 years. My husband was teasing me yesterday because I saved some of the tissue paper from the bags too. I have 3 of the giant plastic gift bags that have been around for nearly 10 years.

I use the paper from our shredding machine in packages that I ship. I'm still trying to figure out a way to dye it or paint it to use in gift bags.....:)

Answer 3

Recycle fabric you can get from the thrift stores. Old dresses and such even come with ribbons and bows that can be reused over and over. It's fun, we have this one fabric that is wrapped around a joke gift... like a white elephant gift. It's always the first present opened no matter who gets it, and it starts the day off well with laughter and good will. We have been using gift fabrics over and over now for 12 years. X-mas and birthdays keep it in the family, but you can start a new trend with gifts to friends for other events too. There is more fabric colors, designs and patterns than there ever was wrapping paper. Even though it can be super cheap, it looks expensive and beautiful. Great question, good luck.

Answer 4

I used to save some of the paper and used small pieces to wrap a few tiny "fake" boxes and hang on the tree as ornaments. As added decoration, I used large pieces to wrap the pictures that were hanging on the wall. I do keep boxes, smaller ones.

Here's a couple of wild ideas that I saw in a magazine years ago.... use the Sunday funnies to wrap. Use brown shipping paper and add two or three brightly colored ribbons. I know, sounds wacky, but it sure is different.

No kids around now, so I don't decorate. I liked it when I did it and made most of my own decorations. It was fun while it lasted.

Answer 5

Yes I reuse gift bags, box's, and wrap. My grown daughter use to complain about that, but then, when they need wrap it's there. There are some wrap that are five years old, but look new because I carefully pack them. I have a box for Christmas and and one for general wrap. Do you know how much I save? And, I'm saving the trees to boot.

Answer 6

I save all the boxes or at least the ones I can flatten out. The gift wrap goes in the trash. I am headed out this morning to get some of the Christmas gift wrap markdowns for next year.

Answer 7

I don't use actual wrapping paper any more - I buy those gift bags with handles - you can get really lovely ones that are inexpensive. They can be folded up and stored away in a box for next year. It saves wasting paper.
Sometimes I wrap presents in a nice square of material or scarf which the person can use as they wish.

Answer 8

Like Pat said when the kids get done opening the gifts there's not to much to recycle. Perhaps I should wrap their gifts in old financial documents it would save me getting a paper shredder.

Answer 9

lol My mom, 87 years and holding, saves boxes and bows - its a family joke now. Save the boxes for Grams! Don't squash that bow, Grams wants it.
We all save the pretty bags, they are easy to store and reuse.
And we do have one very large Birthday Bag that makes the rounds from one to the other. No matter what you get for the birthday present you put it in the bag and give it, that person in turn uses the bag for the next birthday person. The bag is large and has been taped and repaired over the years but it is carefully saved and gifted.

Answer 10

Gift bags, and occasionally a box, yes. Not the wrapping though as we usually have torn through it!...LOL

I do keep what's left on the wrapping rolls for the next year, and any leftover bows, ribbon and tags. That came in real handy this year as I had forgotten to buy wrapping ;-)

Answer 11

i dont recycle gift wrap bkus theres usually a whole bunch of it [from the kids gifts] so i just usually get a huge black bag & throw away all wrapping paper, boxes from barbies or trucks, and cups & cans laying around on christmas day!
but reusable boxes or gift bags i will save & use for next christmas or on birthdays