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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to leave unwanted household items outside for people to take if they want them

90 replies

longwayoff · 14/08/2018 07:46

Sometimes I do this. Mostly books occasionally small furniture items. I put a post on a neighbourhood site saying please take if u want them. If not gone by end of day then I make other arrangements. Vile Mail says I'm a middle class fly tipper. I'm feeling a bit miffed.

OP posts:
BWatchWatcher · 14/08/2018 07:47

YABU to care about the Daily Fail.

SimonBridges · 14/08/2018 07:50

Who cares what the Mail think.

I do it. It’s not fly tipping as they are on my land. I’d rather someone could take something and make use of it than it end up in land fill.

listsandbudgets · 14/08/2018 07:52

We do this all the time. Its amazing what people take.

I put out all the DCs outgrown uniform skirts and trousers and they went within the hour.

Toys go quickly too and a couple of years ago I put out a table woth a note saying please knock for chairs and had a lovely girl on doorstep within 40 minutes. Sjed just moved into her first flat and she and her boyfriend carried them all away one by one

Its a great way of recycling

Jillyjollyjandy · 14/08/2018 07:52

This is very normal where I live. I have a coffee table and two chairs found in this way and I’ve put toys and books outside which have been taken.

DiamondsInTheMud · 14/08/2018 07:52

Ive done this before with things like hoovers etc. I live in a flat, so left it out on the street with a note saying it still works and is free to anyone that wants it. Its always gone within the hour.

Glitteryfrog · 14/08/2018 07:53

Fine if you do it -

  1. when it's dry.
  2. take stuff to the tip if it's not taken within a couple of days.
  3. it's actually useable. Not just crap

If you leave it to be moved up and down your street, leave it in the rain for someone to report as fly tipping or just dump junk you think 'might be useful'.

ThanosSavedMe · 14/08/2018 07:54

Fuck the daily fail!

Sleepthief · 14/08/2018 07:56

This is probably my neighbour!!! He works for the DM and I have been known to do this with good quality useable items. Mind you, I'm fairly certain his wife has too Confused

GoblinSharts · 14/08/2018 07:56

I’ve bought lots off the side of the road!! My best was a 100year old oak fireplace surround for £30. Do it!! No different to gumtree for free!

BlackStoneCherie · 14/08/2018 07:58

I think it's another good way of goods NOT going to landfill.

Totally ignore the DM - it just likes to stir it up!

Where do you leave the items? I leave mine at the end of the drive - but still on my property. I fix a notice to them saying they are free, please take, and most times people knock on the door to confirm this is so.

If anything left, it goes on freecycle or whatever, but the village gets first dibs.

Keep on passing it on!

WutheringFrights · 14/08/2018 07:58

My brother put furniture outside hIs house that he wanted to get rid of - although he found that if he put ‘free to a good home’ it would just sit there so he started putting price labels on....the stuff would then get nicked almost instantly! 😂

LellyMcKelly · 14/08/2018 08:02

It’s a great way to recycle your unwanted things. I put stuff out if it’s still in decent condition. Old scooters, desks, etc. are gone in a few hours, even on our quiet street. I love the idea that it stays and is used by members of my community.

twoheaped · 14/08/2018 08:03

If you live on a road with a lot of foot fall, then it is okay for the day but should be brought in before dark and the local youth/drunks start prowling.

At our tip, there is a shipping container type thing that stuff too good to throw is put in. You can then help yourself to that. The operatives thier keep it neat and bin whatever's been there a long time if more room is needed.
If your tip offers that, you should do that.

ToadOfSadness · 14/08/2018 08:05

Our neighbours do this. Mostly the stuff goes in a few days, they leave it on the edge of their property.

However, it has encouraged thefts from other gardens of things that are not meant to be taken. Mainly by 'gardeners' who now check out people's safe places for parcels and by their bins to see what they can steal. A bit of a pain now as leaving things out for genuine Freecyclers/Freeglers is no longer an option and you have to wait in for them.

I spent a lot of my day keeping watch on our belongings when the gardeners are about in case they start stripping the car of parts while I am making a cup of tea.

If they would just take the stuff that has obviously been left to be taken it would be OK, not enter private property and help themselves. I leave stuff for a lady from a charity to collect, can't always be around as her timings can be tricky and now have to hide it from view.

Leaving it out is OK but offering it on Freecycle would be kinder on the neighbours who don't want to give their things away. I put mine out, in a black bag, with the collectors name on, now has to be out of site of the road though, thanks to these generous people and the thieves.

JellyBears · 14/08/2018 08:07

I walk to work everyday. And I pass so much tat ppl have left outside. Take it to a charity shop. It looks such a mess to see it left out.

ToadOfSadness · 14/08/2018 08:15

Also, our Freecycle has days for people to bring and take their unwanted stuff. A designated place, you just go and leave your useful stuff, and can take stuff you want. Better than making the streets look like a dump and encouraging theft and having it pee'd on, and I don't just mean by dogs.

kaytee87 · 14/08/2018 08:16

Honestly, I wouldn't do it and I'd be annoyed if my neighbours left their old tat in the street.

serbska · 14/08/2018 08:19

Totally normal round my way.

I once left out my old snowboard (no bindings) and someone (slightly unsavoury looking) had it off me practically before I’d even put it down.

Then a few mins later a police car pulled up asking did I give a man a snowboard like he’s claiming or had he stolen it!

nicebitofquiche · 14/08/2018 08:20

It's the norm here. Stuff is left at the back not in front street. We also leave old broken appliances out and they get picked up by scrapmen.

Lovelydovey · 14/08/2018 08:22

I often leave seedlings and plants on my front path for people to take - am planning to do again soon with some aganpanthus I will be splitting in the next few weeks.

My dad got rid of a cast iron bath this way - left it in the front garden till someone collected it because they wanted to sell the iron. Took less than 2 hours to go!

Oysterbabe · 14/08/2018 08:23

Everyone does that round here. As long as it's on your land and you get rid of it if it isn't taken then it's fine.

cariadlet · 14/08/2018 08:26

As long as it's on your land so that it doesn't block up the street then it's a great idea: much better than landfill and less hassle for you than freecycle.

Original poster
longwayoff · 14/08/2018 08:27

Great idea about the seedlings, I shall add that to my list of give aways

OP posts:
Nofunkingworriesmate · 14/08/2018 08:28

I cleared out my shed
People took old cans of paint and loads of other stuff I considered total junk. Halved the crap, therefore only one trip to the dump. Community recycling, win , win

3stonedown · 14/08/2018 08:30

It's OK the way you are doing it. I run past a house that does it and the stuff hasn't been taken and they've just left it on the pavement for 2 weeks now, been through the rain etc and now looks unusable. If you take it to the tip or whatever within 2 days it's OK.

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