In France, no less than 20,000 tonnes of gift wrap are consumed each year during the holidays. Knowing that it is also a time of great consumption of paper towels and disposable dishes. Paper, cardboard, plastic film, wooden boxes … or throw away all this once the festivities are over? We take stock.
1 / The gift wrap
Be careful not to put everything in a jumble in a large bag. If it is in paper, it settles in the sorting bin. If it is plasticized, metallic or with glitter, it is thrown with the household waste. Note that even if it is plain paper, it will never be a good idea to burn it in the fireplace or wood stove.
2 / The transparent film
He throws himself with the household waste except in extended areas where it goes into the sorting bin. (Check your status beforehand on the CITEO website – citeo.com – or with your town hall)
3 / Cardboard boxes
They get into the sorting bin. However, be sure to have removed links and handles, often plastic. However, there is no need to remove plastic windows when they are small, they do not interfere with the cardboard recycling process.
4 / Cardboard packaging with plastic presentation windows
Think carefully about separate the cardboard packaging and the plastic shell. The cardboard part is sorted and the plastic shell is thrown in the trash except in areas where sorting is simplified which accept all plastic packaging (same thing for battery packs, small packaging of toys such as cars or figurines …).
5 / The packing tape
If it's paper (the most classic, "to curl"), it is sorted. If it is fabric, with metallic or plastic wires then it is thrown away with the household garbage. The best recycling is to keep it preciously and reuse it for your next gift wrapping!
6 / bubble wrap
Made up of plastic, it is thrown in the trash except in areas where sorting is simplified, where it is sorted.
7 / paper towels
Like all "hygiene" papers (handkerchiefs, paper towels, wipes …) they are thrown exclusively at the trash can.
Good to know: on the free application Sorting guide geolocation allows you to know all the waste sorting solutions around you. If in doubt, do not hesitate to download it!
More info on www.citeo.com
Read also :
⋙ How to reduce packaging on a daily basis?
⋙ SOS trash: how to reduce waste?
⋙ What to do with gift wrap after Christmas?