Take wrapping paper. What’s it made of? Paper, of course. Paper like your old newspaper. Paper like the printer mistakes you recycle. Paper like your junk mail. You can recycle it by simply tossing it in with your regular paper recycling bin. The one exception: Foil wrapping paper, which should go into the regular trash.

There’s other waste, too. We open lots of cans of stuff, empty bottles of stuff, too. In the hustle and bustle of the day it might seem easier just to toss it in the trash. However, if you take the time today to bring your recycling bin into the garage (or place it outside the backdoor), it will be a lot easier to recycle and less tempting to trash. And how about all the packing materials and cardboard you will inevitably find hanging around the house? Get rid of cardboard with your regular newspaper recycling. (Yes, all those doll and truck boxes, too!) Packing peanuts and bubble wrap find a second life at places like Mail Boxes Etc. or the UPS Store. You can find the closest place that accepts both at the Plastic Loose Fill Council’s Web site, where you can find a Drop Off Center search right on the front page.

And there you go! Off to my sister’s house now. Hope everyone who is celebrating has a happy and healthy Christmas. Those of you who have celebrated already, or will celebrate next month have a few fun days off. Enjoy!