By Lookout Staff

November 16, 2011 -- If you're guilty of contributing to landfills by trashing your holiday wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, Santa Monica wants to offer an alternative.

On Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., the City's Resource Recovery & Recycling Division will host a collection event at the City Yards to show you how to wrap a present with a T-shirt, towel, pillow case or other unusable clothing.

"This year, try tapping into your creative side," said Kim Braun, the City's Resource Recovery & Recycling Manager. "T-shirts make wonderful wrapping and we are here to show you how."

In addition to teaching residents how to reuse cloth instead of purchasing new wrapping paper, this year's event will feature a mini-workshop on constructing no-sew T-shirt bags.

Residents should bring clean and dry textiles like clothing, shoes, towels, sheets, scarves, hats, bags and belts to the workshop, Braun said.

Santa Monica residents are also encouraged to take clothing they no longer need to any of the many charities benefiting the Santa Monica area.

"Most 'old' clothing in good condition can be resold by local charities," Braun said. "Even torn or stained clothing that is not suitable for resell can be recycled.

"Some recovered fabrics become wiping and polishing cloths, those old jeans can become wall insulation and cotton can actually be composted."

The average American threw away 68 pounds of textiles last year, including old rags, bedding, socks, and unflattering clothing, recycling officials said.

The City Yards is located at 2500 Michigan Avenue.