Sami Laurence said she uses newspaper as a more eco-friendly substitute compared to store-bought wrapping paper for presenting gifts.

Live Christmas trees can be composted once their seasonal usefulness ends, and Sami Laurence, manager of the Macoskey Center at Slippery Rock University, said they can be safely returned to the earth at the end of their lifetimes.

“That tree comes from the woods and I typically just compost my tree along my treeline,” Laurence said. “It makes really good starter fire wood when it dries out.”

The wood from old Christmas trees is not the only useful component as it is composted, because Laurence said the pine needles can also act as mulch for other plants. After a few months of decomposing, the tree should mostly be gone, Laurence said.

“The one in my tree line I put there a year ago; the only thing I have is the trunk,” Laurence said. “That's going to take the longest because of how big it is.”

Macoskey's manager also said she regularly uses brown paper bags, newspaper and sometimes even leaves as creative casing for holiday and birthday gifts.

Laurence said she tries to use repurposed materials to wrap gifts in, which is more eco-friendly than using store-bought wrapping paper, and often more visually distinct.

“There are a lot of different options out there instead of regular gift wrapping,” Laurence said. “I personally repurpose newspaper and all the coupons — especially the comics and funnies — and use that for wrapping paper. I make fun little bows out of the newspaper like fluff, which makes it look a little more decorative.”

According to Laurence, store-bought wrapping paper can be recycled after use in Paper Retriever bins around Butler County, as long as it doesn't have glitter, foil, inks, dyes or twine.

However, Laurence said creative reuse of paper materials is the best way to cut down on your carbon footprint, and also save money.

“I have been saving up a lot of the bags and tissue paper I got year-round; I have enough gift bags this year I didn't have to buy any,” Laurence said. “I have also seen people use old maps to make a fun and neat wrapping paper, as well. If people have tropical house plants with large leaves, that could function as some fun wrapping paper that is also eco-friendly.”