Despite being recyclable, 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper are wasted with half of it ending up in landfills. The holiday season should be a cheery time for not only us, but the planet too. Finding alternatives is important to keeping our beloved holidays eco-friendly by using different materials such as newspaper, cloth, or reusable gift.

It's important to find out if your wrapping paper is 100% recyclable to ensure less waste ends up in landfills. Materials such as glitter, foil, and plastic coatings are non-recyclables and must be discarded after use, while items like ribbons and bows are able to be reused instead of thrown into trash cans. 

Wrapping paper contributes to climate change through its energy-intensive production, while the paper and its plastic coatings contribute to landfill waste that produces methane. Throwing out wrapping paper rather than recycling it, slowly destroys forests and other habitats. Wrapping paper is one of the main things found in landfills during the holiday season.