Gift wrapping paper not accepted at all US recycling centers due to weak fibers, certain glues and additives, which can lower prices on recovered paper bales or even result in rejection, say recycling officials

Debra Garcia

ORLANDO, Florida , December 25, 2013 (Portland Press Herald) – Christmas wrapping paper only recyclable in some areas ; In Greater Portland, ecomaine does recycle wrapping paper, says a member of ecomaine's board of directors.

Not even the recycling man wants wrapping paper once it has been ripped off a Christmas present.

The reason? Typical wrapping paper contains wimpy fibers, certain glues and additives that aren't good for new paper.

That's the message from Jimmy Rodriguez, manager of the region's largest recycling center at the Orange County, Fla., landfill.

When Rodriguez's sorting equipment fills with colorful wrapping paper this time of year, his employees grab and toss all they can down the reject chute.

In fact, if paper mills find too much Christmas wrapping in a bundle of recycled paper they either won't buy it at all or they will pay less for it, he said.

In Greater Portland, ecomaine does recycle wrapping paper, says Troy Moon, a member of ecomaine's board of directors.

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