Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put dog mess in a strangers bin?

393 replies

AnnaQuayRules · 16/03/2026 16:01

I normally would never dream of doing this. However, today I was walking my dog along a road when he decided to crap on the grass verge. So of course I picked it up and bagged it.

It was bin day and everyone's bins were outside their houses. The bin lorry turned into the street and so, as it approached, I popped the bag into the nearest bin which was collected almost immediately.

However the man in the house came storming out and started shouting at me. He said I had no right to put anything in his bin. It got worse when I tried to explain, especially as he hadn't realised it was a dog bag. So I apologised and moved off with him still shouting down the road.

I would never have placed anything in anyone's bin whilst it's on their property, but these bins are all on the pavement waiting to be emptied. It was about 3/4 full, I placed the bag on top of what was there and the whole bin was emptied within about 60 seconds.

Was I really out of order?

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 16/03/2026 16:38

I wouldn’t have an issue (as long as you put it in the right bin! I get really annoyed if people put stuff in the garden hub and the council won’t take it).

So I honestly don’t see the issue esp as the bin lorry was literally coming down the road.

Pamcakey · 16/03/2026 16:38

I honestly do not get the aggro here. It was going to be in the bin for a few minutes, max? I could understand if it wasn’t about to be collected but…it was. It’s a bin FGS.

Stepsisterfromhell · 16/03/2026 16:37

No, I wouldn’t mind at all and that man and three quarters of the mostly dog -hating MN responders are uptight and unreasonable. You did nothing wrong OP.

Cyclebabble · 16/03/2026 16:37

No not ok even for 60 seconds. I would be cross if I saw you doing this.

kombuchabucha · 16/03/2026 16:36

I'd love to know how many cat owners are on this thread saying YABU OP. I wouldn't mind someone putting bagged dog poo in my bin on collection day, but I do mind cats shitting in my front garden whenever they feel like it.

LumiK · 16/03/2026 16:36

I'd rather people put a dog bag in my bin than leave the mess or hang it from a tree or whatever. I'm not a dog owner but do walk friends/relatives dogs sometimes and when it's ages until a bin (because there aren't many of them about, thanks local authorities) it's a pain to carry around.

I've never put it in anyone's bin for fear of the reaction you got from this bloke and other MN users but I'd have no problem with someone doing it to me.

Suppose people just have different levels of NIMBYism.

Lomonald · 16/03/2026 16:36

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 16/03/2026 16:24

@Lomonald haha in our house they'd always be referred to as dogshit lady

Yip 😀

illsendansostotheworld · 16/03/2026 16:35

Meh wouldn't bother me if someone did this

caffeinedependent · 16/03/2026 16:35

Ithinkofawittyusernamethenforgetit · 16/03/2026 16:26

It’s not about the bin, it’s how the contents are put in. Where I used to live, bin men always opened the lid first to have a quick glance that things were bagged (big bags) properly. They’d leave any bins which had loose bags on top. Trouble is, it’s not always the householders fault - it’s passers by. Happened to me - full bin didn’t get emptied for another two weeks, plus you have to add the small dog poo bag to a big bag. Where I live now, each black bag has to be secure as they take them out of traditional round bins, no space for wheelie bins. However, I wouldn’t have gone crazy at OP but would’ve explained.

Show quote history

Fair enough, in my area they all just get emptied into the back of a lorry - the bin men couldn't give a crap (pun intended) What's actually inside lol. Maybe if I lived in an area such as yours I'd care slightly more. But I assumed the OP also has a similar service to me where she is by reference of the lorry coming

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 16/03/2026 16:34

caringcarer · 16/03/2026 16:30

Take it home and put it in your own bin. Make your own bin smell not someone else's. You must realise you are being vv unreasonable.

All bins smell. That's what bins are for.

Do you perfume your bin?

Lomonald · 16/03/2026 16:34

Everleigh13 · 16/03/2026 16:09

Somebody put a dog poo bag in my food waste bin last week. If I’d seen them do it I would have gone out and told them off.

I know you didn’t put it in their food waste bin but I really wouldn’t put it in any bin that isn’t yours. Take it home.

My mum used to do this when she watched my neices dog, ours is mixed garden and food waste she thought it was fine to put poo bags in it !

WongKarWai · 16/03/2026 16:34

I wouldn’t do this but it also wouldn’t bother me one little bit if someone put a bag of dog poo on my bin on bin day. It’s a bin.

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 16/03/2026 16:34

AnnaQuayRules · 16/03/2026 16:01

I normally would never dream of doing this. However, today I was walking my dog along a road when he decided to crap on the grass verge. So of course I picked it up and bagged it.

It was bin day and everyone's bins were outside their houses. The bin lorry turned into the street and so, as it approached, I popped the bag into the nearest bin which was collected almost immediately.

However the man in the house came storming out and started shouting at me. He said I had no right to put anything in his bin. It got worse when I tried to explain, especially as he hadn't realised it was a dog bag. So I apologised and moved off with him still shouting down the road.

I would never have placed anything in anyone's bin whilst it's on their property, but these bins are all on the pavement waiting to be emptied. It was about 3/4 full, I placed the bag on top of what was there and the whole bin was emptied within about 60 seconds.

Was I really out of order?

It's not their bin - it's the councils bin - it has the councils name on it and their little logo. Nobody, anywhere, takes their bin in their house. It stays outside forever.

Put as many - properly bagged and tied, poos in the bin as you like.

SingtotheCat · 16/03/2026 16:33

I wouldn’t have minded.

Original poster
AnnaQuayRules · 16/03/2026 16:33

caringcarer · 16/03/2026 16:30

Take it home and put it in your own bin. Make your own bin smell not someone else's. You must realise you are being vv unreasonable.

As I said, it was in there for less than 60 seconds, but I've also said I appreciate I was wrong to think it was ok given the short time.

OP posts:
PoachedSmoke · 16/03/2026 16:32

@AnnaQuayRules Nice one OP. I have a huge amount of respect for people who can accept criticism and act according 👍

caffeinedependent · 16/03/2026 16:32

Firtreefiona · 16/03/2026 16:16

Are you a dog person? If you don’t pick up poo regularly or don’t have kids in nappies or other caring responsibilities poo isn’t something you see regularly and the idea of a stranger’s (or their dog’s) poo in your landfill bin is utterly disgusting.

Show quote history

I'm actually not, I have cats. I just don't understand why everyone is getting so precious over an outside bin - the world has gone mad!

anon12345anon · 16/03/2026 16:32

Yanbu......

I couldn't give a shit (excuse the pun Grin)

Lucky people who get wound up about this- obviously have nothing else to worry about.....

SteveandLeanne · 16/03/2026 16:31

caffeinedependent · 16/03/2026 16:09

I don't get the outrage, I would have done the same if the bins were out on the street waiting to be emptied. Also, technically bins aren't people's properties either, they belong to the council, so I think everyone needs to take a step back and stop being so petty.

I agree. I dont see it as a problem in those circumstances as the poo bag wouldn’t be in the bin long enough to stink it out.

SatsumaDog · 16/03/2026 16:31

If it comes out of your dog’s arse it belongs to you. You carry it until you can put it in a bin allocated for that purpose or you take it home. It doesn’t go in someone else’s bin, in the middle of the pavement, in the gutter, on someone’s garden wall, hanging off a tree or any of the other bizarre place people think it’s acceptable to leave their pet’s shit.

Ithinkofawittyusernamethenforgetit · 16/03/2026 16:31

Ginburee · 16/03/2026 16:24

My bin is about 3 metres from the pavement and always filled with people's shitty dog bags.
I get really cross at this too, stink up your ow bin.

Mine was too - and my recycling often had old kebab trays slung on top so bin men wouldn’t take. You’d get the sign of shame tagged to it “contaminated contents - please empty and dispose” and sometimes even a letter in the post with a “how to recycle” leaflet that went straight in the recycling 🤣

caringcarer · 16/03/2026 16:30

Take it home and put it in your own bin. Make your own bin smell not someone else's. You must realise you are being vv unreasonable.

Original poster
AnnaQuayRules · 16/03/2026 16:30

Ginburee · 16/03/2026 16:24

My bin is about 3 metres from the pavement and always filled with people's shitty dog bags.
I get really cross at this too, stink up your ow bin.

I agree that's awful. As I said, I only did it as the bin was literally about to be emptied, but I have also said I appreciate I misjudged it.

OP posts:
StephensLass1977 · 16/03/2026 16:29

I have beloved dogs and walk them loads. This happens to me a fair amount, and I've never used a stranger's bin as I know I'd get told off! I either take it home or wait until I see a public bin.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 16/03/2026 16:29

Unreasonable. Your dog. Take it home and put it in your own bin.

Swipe left for the next trending thread