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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Nicking from recycling bins?

29 replies

littleprincesssara · 25/07/2016 13:23

Mainly light-hearted.

One of my neighbours gets the Sunday Times delivered every week, and every week they throw it out in their recycling box still in the wrapper.

I quite like reading the ST magazines but I resent giving Murdoch money. I also don't generally get home till late on a Sunday, after the shops have shut.

AIBU in, er, helping myself to it? I mean, they have thrown it out.

OP posts:
NorbertDentressangle · 25/07/2016 13:29

YANBU - you are recycling and , like you said, not giving Murdoch any money.

If it was my bin you'd be welcome to help yourself

PersianCatLady · 25/07/2016 13:30

Why don't you just ask them if it is alright for you to have it?

However, I seriously doubt any police officer will be arresting you anytime soon though for the theft of a Sunday Times.

ShotsFired · 25/07/2016 13:35

Wouldn't it be easier to ask them if they could keep their spare papers for you as you have ?

LurkingHusband · 25/07/2016 13:36

Technically theft (from the organisation who collect the recycling).

LAmusic · 25/07/2016 13:37

It's not theft if she recycles it after though Wink

littleprincesssara · 25/07/2016 13:38

I'm not sure who it belongs to as the box is on the pavement and it's mainly blocks of flats. We generally have one box per block that everyone shares.

OP posts:
BoGrainger · 25/07/2016 13:46

Surely not still in the wrapper? Doesn't the plastic (if even recyclable) need to go in another bin?

BoGrainger · 25/07/2016 13:47

Oh, and I would dig it out so yanbu

Ragwort · 25/07/2016 13:47

I can't imagine that's a problem at all, I helped myself to a newspaper out of the rubbish bin yesterday - it had been read but I was too mean to buy my own copy Grin.

MrsJoeyMaynard · 25/07/2016 13:54

They throw it out in the wrapper? So they don't even read it?

Scholes34 · 25/07/2016 20:47

YABU - it's a dreadful paper!

raviolidreaming · 25/07/2016 20:49

YADNBU, as it should be removed from the wrapper for the recycling.

StarryIllusion · 25/07/2016 21:06

I wouldn't be bothered. As long as you didn't make a mess and put the lid back properly you are welcome to it.

Heidi42 · 25/07/2016 21:09

Carry on OP yanbm

Whatwhatinthewhatnow · 25/07/2016 22:26

Honestly? Take the thing and don't give it a second thought. No one will even care or police your "theft". Don't ask them if its ok that you have it, they wont give a shit, they've thrown it out and they'll just think you are a nutter who goes down their bins. It's a total non issue, if its thrown out; its fair game.

Floggingmolly · 25/07/2016 22:30

Presumably you'll recycle it in turn when you've read it? How could it possibly be theft? Confused

Lacystacie · 25/07/2016 22:33

YANBU I used to raid recycling bins for papers (a bag full each week) for toilet training my pup, I had an officer stop me and ask what I was doing, after telling him he laughed said that was a good idea and told me to continue! One mans trash is another mans treasure !!

ColdTeaAgain · 25/07/2016 22:33

YANBU
But am irrationally irritated at neighbour's wastefulness! Why are they buying it if they never open it? Confused

littleprincesssara · 25/07/2016 22:41

I know! I do recycle it after reading (and throw the wrapper in the bin).

I did once steal a giant plastic owl from someone's bin once, and by bizarre coincidence one of my neighbours did the same thing from a different bin on the same street. So apparently a memo went round announcing that giant plastic owls are now declasse.

OP posts:
WordGetsAround · 25/07/2016 22:44

It's even better than recycling as its further up the reduce / reuse / recycle thing! Reusing something before recycling is a very good deed!

littleprincesssara · 25/07/2016 22:49

Hmm, I just picked up the Sunday Times Style magazine I acquired yesterday, and opened it at random on an article on the importance of "listening to your womb."

"It's evident they regularly commune with their wombs."
"Most likely, many will be offering their menstrual blood to the earth."
"The author invites women to 'reclaim the power of your womb. When we connect with our womb space, we connect with our all-woman power source."
"[...]rubbing your belly and telling your womb, 'I love you.'"
"As well as new thinking around eating and exercising appropriately for your womb [...]"

I have changed my mind and now think I am B very U!

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 25/07/2016 22:51

They might get it online, ColdTea. Dh gets the Economist and several computer mags online, but they insist on sending a hard copy as well Confused. Something to do with the tax rate on printed matter, I think.

MrsJoeyMaynard · 25/07/2016 22:56

"listening to your womb"??

What's that about, then? The only context I can think of where that sounds sensible is counting the kicks when pregnant, but that wouldn't fit with menstrual blood.....

Kpo58 · 25/07/2016 22:57

If you live near Wimbledon Common, YABU as Uncle Bulgaria (womble) would want to read it.

Buggers · 25/07/2016 23:01

I genuinely thought you were going to be stealing cardboard boxes and empty kitchen rolls from your thread titleGrin!