During this holiday season, Parsippany Focus reminders it’s readers that all holiday cards and wrapping paper (with the exception of foil wrapping paper) are recyclable.

Ah, the day after Christmas – if you’ve been greening your holiday thus far, why stop now? Parsippany resident Roy Messmer said “One of the simplest ways to keep up the great eco-work is to recycle that colorful mound of ripped-up wrapping paper left in the aftermath of Christmas day.”

If you need ideas, we’ve got five easy ways to reuse your gift wrap:

1) RECYCLE IT: Shredding before recycling is one option, and if you have a manual shredder, you use no electricity.

2) COMPOST IT: Shredded paper is a great starter component for that vermicompost you always wanted to try, but which gave you the creepy crawlies. As one blog commentator wrote, “I use [shredded paper] in my worm composting bin. They love it and then the castings are great for the garden, house plants, even as a type of fertilizer for your yard.” Something to jot on your list of New Year’s resolutions.

3) STUFF IT: When shredded, gift-wrapping paper makes a great packaging tool. This of course means you would have to save the stuff for the next time you’re snail-mailing a delicate gift cross-country to grandma. You can also use it to return that sagging bean bag chair to its original, more rounded, shape.

4) MUSH IT: Make paper mache masks! What kid wouldn’t love his or her very own personalized mask? And it’s easier than you think. All that is required is equal parts flour, water and imagination. If the idea of a mask spooks your kid, make a papier mache bowl instead. Painted Fish Studio has a great tutorial.

5) PET IT: When minced into tiny bits, discarded paper makes great bedding for small pets. I’ve been doing this for over a year now, and our pet bunny couldn’t be happier. It does absorb less than store-bought bedding, does not contain deodorizers and so will require more frequent changes.

If all else fails, you can go the route of this resourceful recycler: “I stuff torn pantyhose and knee highs with shredded paper, spray with Febreze and stuff this into my kids’ stinky sneakers!” But I’d suggest a quick Google search first.

PARSIPPANY — St. Hubert’s has an adorable holiday program where local families can give a shelter pet a family to spend Christmas with.  You would go and pick an appropriate pet at the Shelter and foster it until Saturday, December 26.  The pet goes home with a wrapped gift and gets to hang out with a family during the holiday instead of the shelter.  

If anyone would like to be considered for a holiday foster, they can contact our foster coordinator Kim Lehner at KLehner@sthuberts.org for more information.  They are still accepting families. 

St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center is located at 575 Woodland Road, Madison.

Parsippany Focus will be taking pictures and interviewing a Parsippany family who is participating in the program for Christmas.

Please note: The photo used is for illustration purposes only.

Founded in 1939, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center operates animal shelters in Madison and North Branch, and they opened a third North Jersey location in 2015. St. Hubert’s welcome animals directly from guardians, animals rescued by our animal control officers, from overcrowded shelters across New Jersey, from disaster situations, and from distance partners.

Their nationally renowned Training and Behavior Center, located at the Madison campus, offers specialized training classes and behavior consultations. The Madison facility also houses the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Behavioral Rehabilitation Center, a ground-breaking behavior program for dogs that are victims of puppy mills, hoarding, or other abuse.

Additionally, St. Hubert’s provides a variety of community services, including pet adoption, humane education, a pet food pantry, low-cost spay/neuter of community cats, a pet helpline, and a professional education series. They regularly advocate for animal welfare legislation and work to engage our community to help protect animals in New Jersey and beyond.

In addition to their role as a nonprofit organization, St. Hubert’s provides animal control services to a number of municipalities in Somerset and Morris counties. Officers assist domestic animals and wildlife in need, and provide educational information to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.