Christmas recycling mistakes that could leave you out of pocket with £200 fines
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A KEY part of Christmas day could turn into a costly error as councils crack down on waste management. After everyone has excitedly torn into their Christmas presents, an easy mistake threatens to put a downer on the festive mood. Brits who fail to dispose of their wrapping paper and other waste correctly risk facing fines of up to £200.
![[An easy Christmas day mistake could be costly as councils launch a crackdown (stock)]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/christmas-wrapping-paper-868749674.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Are you sure you know what can be recycled and what cannot?. From wrapping paper to tinsel and gift tags, this is how you know what can be recycled to avoid unnecessary fines this year. With Christmas being one of the country's most wasteful periods, local councils will be paying close attention to improper waste disposal.
![[Hundreds of thousands of miles worth of wrapping paper ends up in landfill every year in the UK (stock)]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/christmas-household-waste-consisting-boxes-959777174.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
While each council will have its own regulations on recycling and waste disposal, there are some general tips that can help. As the UK leaves around 277,000 miles of wrapping paper in landfills every year, per data cited by Nottinghamshire Live, here is how to know if you can recycle it or not.
![[Paper with glitter, foil, or metallic effects should not be recycled (stock)]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/close-up-shot-wrapping-paper-959777173.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
You may think that all wrapping paper can be put in the recycle bin but that is not true. For incorrect recycling, households can be fined between £60 and £200. On the whole, if you can scrunch up the paper and it remains scrunched, you can put it in the recycle.
![[Cardboard boxes should be broken down and all packaging removed (stock)]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/uk-wiltshire-belmont-house-959777176.jpg?strip=all&w=638)
But, if any paper has glitter, foil, or cellophane on it, it cannot. In order to avoid excess waste, if it is still in good nick, you can always reuse the paper either for other gifts or to cut it up, stick it on cardboard, and make gift tags for next year.
