Want to know if you can recycle wrapping paper? Here’s why you need to do the ‘scrunch test’

We generate tonnes of extra rubbish at Christmas, so it’s important to reuse and recycling as much as possible.

But can you recycle wrapping paper in the Cambridge region?

This depends on what type of wrapping paper it is.

Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service, which covers waste collections and recycling services for Cambridge and East Cambridgeshire, advises households: “Do the scrunch test - if your wrapping paper springs back rather than staying scrunched, it is probably made of metallised plastic, and cannot be recycled.

“Heavily glittered paper should also not be recycled as the plastic glitter and glue cause problems with the recycling process.

“If the paper stays scrunched, and isn't glittery, it can be recycled in your blue bin.

“Metallic, glittery or plastic gift-wrap that you cannot re-use needs to be placed in your black bin as it cannot be recycled.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council has the same advice for households.

To reduce waste, you could try wrapping presents in fabric or fabric bags with real ribbons, which can be used over and over again for years. An added bonus here is that you don't need tape and no mess is created.

Undamaged wrapping paper and gift bags should be stored to use again.

We’ve also published the revised bin collection rounds for Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire and East Cambridgeshire.