Wrapping paper is not one uniform material. Plain paper may be accepted, while foil, glitter, plastic coating, ribbons and heavily taped sheets can make it unsuitable for paper recycling.
Quick answer: remove tape, bows and ribbons, then follow your council’s rule for plain wrapping paper. Do not rely on the scrunch test alone.
Why rules differ
Paper mills and local sorting contracts have different quality requirements. Thin fibres, coatings and contamination can make some gift wrap difficult to recycle.
Prepare accepted paper
Keep it clean and dry. Remove sticky tape, gift tags with non-paper parts, ribbons, bows and plastic windows before placing it in the specified paper or card container.
What not to include
Foil-backed, glitter-covered, laminated or plastic wrapping should not enter paper recycling unless the council expressly accepts it.
Reduce waste next year
Save reusable sheets, bags and boxes. Fabric wraps, recyclable brown paper and gifts requiring no wrap can reduce seasonal waste.
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Official sources
Sources checked: July 2026. Local services and national requirements can change.