Usually because it's not just paper, but has wax/plastic/foil as well as the pulp paper. Recycling facilities generally rely on a paper or plastic being separate from each other, even if they don't require you to sort it yourself.

In checking up on myself I noticed that wrapping paper could be recycled, but the added cost and energy is not worth the attempt.
Source(s):
http://www.answers.com/topic/wrapping-paper-2 to verify paper contents

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling#Paper to verify the homogeneity of recycling.

Asker's Rating:

Permalink | Report