Dear Recycle Lady,
I have received several Christmas cards this year that have red envelopes. Are these red envelopes recyclable?
Red is a Christmas Color
Dear Red is a Christmas Color,
Red definitely is a Christmas color, but it isn’t a recyclable color, unless when torn it has white paper in the middle. This is true for all dark colors such as black, brown and chartreuse. Make a tear in your red paper and you probably will see that it is red all the way though. This indicates that the fibers are red and only white fibers are recyclable. If you see white in the middle of the paper, then its fibers are white, and it is recyclable. When recycled paper is processed it must have white fibers in order to make new paper. Bright fluorescent colors are not recyclable either for the same reason. However, fluorescent paper is now undergoing a change. According to link.springer.com, a highly stable recyclable fluorescent paper is being developed into an environmentally friendly cellulose-based paper derived from waste bagasse, and to be used for anti-counterfeiting and security. Bagasse is also known as sugar care pulp. When the juice is squeezed from the sugar cane stalks, the waste that remains is fibrous and is being proposed as a means of making environmentally friendly fluorescent paper.
Dear Recycle Lady,
After all the packages are opened on Christmas day there is always a pile of ribbons and bows left. Are ribbons and bows recyclable?
Love Christmas
Dear Love Christmas,
Ribbons and bows make packages festive and pretty, but they are a definitely a no-no for recycling. If ribbons get into any of the baling equipment, they can bring everything to a halt. Bows are less hazardous to equipment than ribbons, but they usually have a plastic component and a glue that sticks the bows to the packages. Both of these components make bows non-recyclable. Please do not take any ribbons, bows, twine, or anything long and stringy to a recycling center. Whenever you are opening packages, keep a bag or a box handy for the bows and ribbons. They will then be ready for use the next time you wrap a package.
Dear Recycle Lady,
Most wrapping paper comes on a long roll. Can the roll be recycled with cardboard?
Wrapper
Dear Wrapper,
Yes, the wrapping paper tube can be recycled with cardboard. All those gift boxes you find under the tree after opening packages can also be recycled with cardboard. Just be sure they are clean, dry, and empty. Besides recycling, the empty wrapping paper tube can be reused to store used wrapping paper on for safe keeping until its next use.
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Dear Readers, The Greenbrier Recycling Center, Greenworks, and I send you best wishes and much joy for this holiday season. We greatly appreciate all your questions, comments, and encouragement. Please keep them coming in 2024.
Have questions about recycling, or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to recyclelady@greenbrier-swa.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.