Learn how to recycle, upcycle, or compost wrapping paper with easy ideas and tips for reducing holiday waste sustainably.
Wrapping paper is one of those sneaky waste items that piles up fast—especially after birthdays, Christmas, and big family celebrations. Reusing it is tricky if the paper gets really wrinkled.
The good news? A lot of wrapping paper can be reused, repurposed, recycled, or even composted… as long as you know what you’re dealing with.
Here are easy ways to sort it, recycle it responsibly, and upcycle it into something cute and useful.
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First: How to Tell What Kind of Wrapping Paper You Have
Before you toss it into a recycling bin (or compost pile), do a quick check. Consider buying wrapping paper that is ecofriendly vs. something that will go straight into the landfill.
✅ Wrapping paper is usually OK to recycle if it’s:
- Plain paper (matte, not shiny)
- Kraft paper / brown paper
- Simple printed paper (no glitter or foil)
- Tissue paper (some areas allow it in recycling, but compost is often better)
❌ Wrapping paper is NOT recyclable if it’s:
- Glittery (glitter = microplastic + contamination)
- Foil / metallic / reflective
- Plastic-coated or laminated
- Very thick and glossy like magazine paper
- Covered in tape, sticky labels, or lots of residue (small bits are okay, but huge tape strips are not)
Quick test:
👉 The “scrunch test”: Crumple it into a ball.
If it springs back open → often plastic-coated or foil-lined (not recyclable)
If it stays scrunched → usually paper-based (good sign)
Wrapping Paper Recycling Ideas (Quick + Practical)
If your paper passes the test, here are easy ways to recycle responsibly:
✅ Recycle it the normal way:
- Remove as much tape as possible (especially thick plastic tape)
- Remove bows, ribbon, and gift tags
- Flatten or loosely ball it (depending on your recycling program)
- Put it directly into your curbside recycling (if accepted in your area)
✅ Other “recycling-style” options:
- Use it as packing material for shipping boxes (instead of bubble wrap)
- Save large pieces for future gift wrapping
- Shred it and use it as filler for gift baskets
- Use plain brown paper as recycled wrapping paper next time (tie it with twine)
🚫 Things to avoid putting in recycling:
- Ribbon (especially curly ribbon)
- Bows
- Foil wrap
- Glitter wrap
- Cellophane wrap
- Heavily taped-up pieces
Can You Compost Wrapping Paper? (YES… Sometimes!)
Composting wrapping paper is one of the easiest eco-friendly options if the paper is truly compostable.
✅ Wrapping paper CAN be composted if it is:
- Plain paper wrapping paper (non-glossy)
- Kraft paper / brown paper
- Tissue paper (especially plain)
- Paper with basic ink printing
- Paper that tears easily like regular paper
If it can’t be recycled, it can’t be composted.
Composting tips (so it breaks down faster):
- Tear it into small pieces first
- Mix it with “greens” like food scraps or fresh grass clippings
- Use it as a brown layer in a compost bin (paper = carbon)
- Avoid composting huge amounts at once unless your compost pile is large and active
Bonus: Wrapping paper is actually great compost “brown” material when you’re short on dried leaves or cardboard!
Upcycling Wrapping Paper Ideas (Cute + Useful!)
This is the fun part. Even small pieces can become something adorable.
Gift + Party Upcycles
- Make DIY gift tags (cut into rectangles, punch a hole, tie with string)
- Create “to/from” labels with a marker
- Make tiny envelopes for gift cards or notes
- Use as wrapping paper for small gifts (jewelry boxes, ornaments, etc.)
- Wrap book covers (especially for kids’ books or school journals)
- Make party decor paper chains
- Create festive cupcake toppers (glue to toothpicks)
- Use as confetti (only if it’s not glitter/foil)
Kids Crafts + Easy Activities
- Paper collages (great for little kids)
- Make a “torn paper mosaic” art project
- Cut shapes for scavenger hunts or learning games
- Make holiday paper crowns or hats
- Use pieces for DIY stickers (wrap over cardstock + cut out)
- Make puppets or paper dolls
- Use as scrapbooking backgrounds
Or… you can just use it for art paper! As you can see below, my son loved using it to draw on. You can use paints, although water colors didn’t work well (which makes sense).
It’s great for practicing cutting with scissors as well, particularly the paper with the lines.
If you don’t want them to draw on it, it also might be good as scrap to put under their artwork to keep your table clean.
Home + Organization Uses
- Line drawers or shelves (especially kraft paper styles)
- Use as “pretty paper” for folding notes or lunchbox messages
- Wrap fragile decor for storage (Christmas ornaments, ceramics)
- Make DIY drawer dividers (wrap around cardboard)
- Cover storage bins for a prettier look
- Create a small “paper patch” for labeling boxes
Paper Crafts + DIY Stationery
- Make handmade greeting cards (wrap paper on cardstock)
- Use as decorative accents on letters or envelopes
- Make origami stars, hearts, or cranes
- Create bookmarks (laminate if you want them durable)
- Make paper beads (great for older kids)
- Make a mini bunting banner (triangle flags on string)
DIY Decor (Surprisingly cute!)
- Frame a piece as seasonal art (cheap and easy!)
- Use it in lieu of scrapbook paper for your scrapbook or other craft projects. You could even make custom tissue boxes like this with it!
- Use as backing paper in picture frames
- Create a wreath form: wrap paper strips around a cardboard circle
- Make paper rosettes or fan decorations
- Cover a small tabletop or craft table temporarily for mess protection
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