It’s Kuhl To Recycle: It’s A Wrap

Alternatives For Dressing Up Holiday Trinkets

By Mark Kuhl
For the GPHN

Gift wrapping paper is not allowed in Denver’s purple recycling bins, because many brands contain non-paper additives like metallic flakes, glitter, and plastics.  

To avoid generating an extra bag of trash after opening presents this holiday season, consider alternative, creative ways to conceal your loved ones’ gifts. Old maps, magazine pages, and newspaper are often lying around the house and make for excellent wrapping. Brown paper bags also work and look elegant when a twig or pine cone is tied on with natural fiber twine made from hemp, jute or sisal.  

Tea towels or fabric scraps are a unique gift-wrapping solution and can be reused many times, and so can gift bags. Limit the use of tissue paper, or plan to reuse it, because it also is not accepted in our recycle bins. 

Happy holidays!

Mark Kuhl is an environmental advocate who lives in Park Hill with his family. A directory of his past columns for recycling everything from paint to Styrofoam to shoes is at greaterparkhill.org/sustainability/recycling-directory/.