Reduce Waste By Trying Out Green Gift Wrapping Options

Now that the holiday season is upon us, household waste will increase by 25 percent, according to Rice County.

In an effort to reduce that 25 percent increase, Rice County will be providing weekly tips. Last week's feature focused on alternatives to traditional holiday gift wrapping:

• Use scarves, handkerchiefs, bandannas, cloth napkins, kitchen towels or other fabric items.
• Place gifts inside reusable containers like cookie tins, mixing bowls, flower pots, gardening buckets or baskets.
• Use newspaper, old posters, and maps to wrap your gift and recycle it when you’re done. 
• Wrap gifts in your children’s or your own artwork.
• Place your gift in a reusable bag that someone can use once they’ve opened their present.
• Give a “treasure” map to find an unwrapped gift hidden elsewhere in the house.
• Use re-usable or re-used gift bags.
• For pictures and instructions on alternative ideas type  “wrapping paper alternatives” or “green gift wrap” into your search engine to find a whole host of websites with ideas.

Last but not least, if you just can’t get away from wrapping paper, consider at least purchasing paper that is made from recycled content material.

For more information on waste reduction or recycling, email questions to RCSolidWaste@co.rice.mn.us.

Related articles on Patch:

• Reduce Waste By Recycling Your Holiday Lights
• Enjoy an Eco-friendly Holiday Season
• Dreaming of a Green Christmas

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