Can you recycle wrapping paper?
It depends on your council: 32 of the 42 councils whose lists say either way take it. Of the 32 councils that take it: 9 keep wrapping paper with glitter out; 19 keep foil, metallic or shiny wrapping paper out; 1 keeps sticky tape and ribbons out; 2 take it only if it can be scrunched. Each council's words are below.
Based on councils' published guidance: the kerbside recycling lists of the 182 councils we have checked, read as each council's page here reads them. An entry counts when it names wrapping paper on its own, so a council whose entry words it inside a longer phrase is not counted. Guidance last checked between September 2026 and October 2026. Each council's page links to its source.
The councils that take it (32)
Each council's entry, with any condition it sets and what its list keeps out, in its own words where we hold them:
- Bolton: Wrapping paper · Not foil based
- Bracknell Forest: Yes: “wrapping paper (not foil based)”; Its list keeps out: No: “foil-based wrapping paper”
- Brent: Wrapping paper · Blue sack; not foil or metallic
- Bury: These items can go in your green bin: “wrapping paper, greetings cards and envelopes”; Its list keeps out: What you can't put in your green bin: “Metallic wrapping paper”
- Cambridge: Wrapping paper · Blue bin · no metallic plastic
- Canterbury: Yes please: “Wrapping paper (no coating)”
- Charnwood: What can go in your green bin or bag: “Wrapping paper (but not the metallic type)”
- Chorley: Things that should go in your brown bin: “gift wrap”
- City of London: “Gift wrap can be recycled in your clear recycling bag or recycling bin.”
- Fenland: Yes please: “Greeting cards and wrapping paper (no glitter, no metallic)”
- Glasgow: Greetings cards and wrapping paper · Blue bin
- Harlow: We can collect: “mixed paper – newspapers, magazines, paperback books, leaflets, brochures, greeting cards (no glitter), wrapping paper (no glitter or foil-like wrapping)”
- Islington: Wrapping paper · Only if it tears like paper
- King's Lynn and West Norfolk: You can put the following into your green recycling bin: “wrapping paper”
- Lancaster: What can go in your wheelie bin or box with a yellow lid: “Greetings cards and wrapping paper (no plastic-based, glitter or foil wrapping)”
- Leicester: Wrapping paper · No glitter or shiny paper
- Manchester: Greetings cards and wrapping paper · Blue bin · no glitter; Its list keeps out: Glittery wrapping paper
- Mid Sussex: What can go in my recycling bin? “Wrapping paper (if scrunchable)”
- Milton Keynes: Wrapping paper · Only if it has no glitter or foil
- Oxford: Paper and card items you can put in your blue bin and clear sacks include: “wrapping paper”
- Ribble Valley: “Don’t forget Christmas wrapping paper, cards and packaging can be recycled and put in your white sack.”
- Rochdale: Wrapping paper · Blue bin; only if you can scrunch it; Its list keeps out: Foil wrapping paper · Dark green general waste bin · Goes in your general waste bin; Its list keeps out: Glitter wrapping paper · Dark green general waste bin · Goes in your general waste bin
- Rushcliffe: Yes please: “Greetings cards and wrapping paper (not those with glitter of other embellishments)”
- South Cambridgeshire: Wrapping paper · Blue bin · no metallic plastic
- South Norfolk: Paper and cardboard: “wrapping paper (clean and without adhesive tape, ribbons and glitter)”; Its list keeps out: The following can't be recycled: “plastic or foil based wrapping paper with adhesive tape, ribbon and glitter”
- Southend-on-Sea: Paper and card items you can put in your blue lid bin (or box) include: “wrapping paper (except foil lined or metallic)”
- Teignbridge: What you can recycle in your green box: “wrapping paper (not foil)”; Its list keeps out: Please do not put these items in your black box: “'foil' wrapping paper”
- Tower Hamlets: Wrapping paper · Not shiny or metallic; Its list keeps out: Shiny wrapping paper
- Tunbridge Wells: “Gift wrap (non-metallic)”
- Uttlesford: “Wrapping paper”
- Walsall: What should go in your green bin: “Junk mail, greeting cards, envelopes, wrapping paper”
- Wirral: Paper and card: “wrapping paper (not foil)”
The councils whose lists keep it out (10)
Each council's entry, and where it says wrapping paper goes instead where its list says so:
- Bristol: Wrapping paper
- East Staffordshire: *What can’t go into the blue bin: “All wrapping paper”
- Fareham: “Wrapping paper: Cannot be recycled as it is often plastic-based. Put in your refuse bin.” · Instead: Refuse bin
- North Lanarkshire: Wrapping paper
- North Somerset: Wrapping paper · Black bin; plain brown wrapping paper goes in box · Goes in your general waste bin
- Sunderland: Please DO NOT put these items in your blue bin: “Wrapping paper”
- Swansea: Please don't include the following items in your green bags: “wrapping paper”
- Test Valley: “Do not put gift wrap in the brown recycling bin.”
- Winchester: No thanks: “Gift wrap”
- Wolverhampton: Do not put any of the following into your Recycling bin: “wrapping paper ✖”
Every council at a glance
| Council | Wrapping paper |
|---|---|
| Bolton | Its list takes it |
| Bracknell Forest | Its list takes it |
| Brent | Its list takes it |
| Bristol | Its list keeps it out |
| Bury | Its list takes it |
| Cambridge | Its list takes it |
| Canterbury | Its list takes it |
| Charnwood | Its list takes it |
| Chorley | Its list takes it |
| City of London | Its list takes it |
| East Staffordshire | Its list keeps it out |
| Fareham | Its list keeps it out |
| Fenland | Its list takes it |
| Glasgow | Its list takes it |
| Harlow | Its list takes it |
| Islington | Its list takes it |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | Its list takes it |
| Lancaster | Its list takes it |
| Leicester | Its list takes it |
| Manchester | Its list takes it |
| Mid Sussex | Its list takes it |
| Milton Keynes | Its list takes it |
| North Lanarkshire | Its list keeps it out |
| North Somerset | Its list keeps it out |
| Oxford | Its list takes it |
| Ribble Valley | Its list takes it |
| Rochdale | Its list takes it |
| Rushcliffe | Its list takes it |
| South Cambridgeshire | Its list takes it |
| South Norfolk | Its list takes it |
| Southend-on-Sea | Its list takes it |
| Sunderland | Its list keeps it out |
| Swansea | Its list keeps it out |
| Teignbridge | Its list takes it |
| Test Valley | Its list keeps it out |
| Tower Hamlets | Its list takes it |
| Tunbridge Wells | Its list takes it |
| Uttlesford | Its list takes it |
| Walsall | Its list takes it |
| Winchester | Its list keeps it out |
| Wirral | Its list takes it |
| Wolverhampton | Its list keeps it out |
Check your own council
Whether wrapping paper goes in your recycling is set by your council. Enter your postcode to find yours and its full bin rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put wrapping paper in the recycling bin?
It depends on your council: 32 of the 42 councils whose lists say either way take it. Check your own council's entry on this page.
Can you recycle wrapping paper with glitter?
9 of the 32 councils that take it keep wrapping paper with glitter out: Fenland, Harlow, Lancaster, Leicester, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Rochdale, Rushcliffe, South Norfolk. Each council's own words are on this page.
Can you recycle foil, metallic or shiny wrapping paper?
19 of the 32 councils that take it keep foil, metallic or shiny wrapping paper out: Bolton, Bracknell Forest, Brent, Bury, Cambridge, Charnwood, Fenland, Harlow, Lancaster, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Rochdale, South Cambridgeshire, South Norfolk, Southend-on-Sea, Teignbridge, Tower Hamlets, Tunbridge Wells, Wirral. Each council's own words are on this page.
Do I need to take sticky tape and ribbons off wrapping paper?
1 of the 32 councils that take it keeps sticky tape and ribbons out: South Norfolk. Each council's own words are on this page.
How can I tell if wrapping paper can be recycled?
2 of the 32 councils that take it take it only if it can be scrunched: Mid Sussex, Rochdale. Each council's own words are on this page.
What can I do with wrapping paper if my council does not take it?
2 of the 10 councils whose lists keep it out say where it goes instead. Fareham: Refuse bin; North Somerset: Goes in your general waste bin.
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