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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to throw damaged items away, or to donate?

52 replies

elephanbee · 04/07/2020 16:42

DP does not like to.throw anything away. So much so, our attic has been made into a storage space, as there is so much clutter!
We had squirrels in the attic previously. I took all of the contents out of the attic prior to work being done, disinfected them, and kept what I think we could. the rest for recycling, or to take to the tip.
DP has gone through everything, and decided most cannot be disposed of. Think squirrel chewed cot frame, or dolls house for example.
He said that for people who have little, these could be worked upon into a usable item.
I'm not sure if this would be possible, I wouldn't usually have donated an item in an unusable condition (apart from material banks).
If there is anywhere that could make use of the items however I'm happy to donate, if anyone aware of such companies? I have a feeling these will be in my house for years, AIBU to throw them away?

OP posts:

growinggreyer · 04/07/2020 16:45

He is a hoarder. Those items have no value and need to go to the tip. They will be recycled or burned for energy. Ask yourself who is begging for a squirrel chewed cot for their PFB.

AnnaSW1 · 04/07/2020 16:47

He's wrong!

marriednotdead · 04/07/2020 16:47

If the items are really unsaleable then I'd offer them up on the local Freecycle forum. If you can't give them away then it's got to be dump.

I'm someone who thinks throw away should be a last resort but there's limits- the squirrel chewed cot may be suitable for upcycling into something but can't see anyone putting their PFB in it!

user187428496 · 04/07/2020 16:51

He's being a twat. How incredibly offensive.

People who have little deserve things in decent, working and hygienic condition. They are not required to be grateful and to make do with other people's garbage.

Mintjulia · 04/07/2020 16:51

He’s wrong but compromIse and put them on free cycle for 2 weeks. No takers, they go to the tip.

LIZS · 04/07/2020 16:56

Our tip has a recycling area for furniture etc which is salvageable with a little work. Or offer on freecycle for upcycling/spares

Elouera · 04/07/2020 16:59

Agree with others to put them on freecycle or olio. Give it a certain amount of time, then get rid. Or take to your local tip or mens shed who might re-use the wood.

Who would really use a chewed up cot though- unless it was maybe, at a push, for a dolls bed?

Knittedfairies · 04/07/2020 17:02

If they're too damaged for you to use, they're too damaged to donate.

Original poster

elephanbee · 04/07/2020 17:24

I'm liking the free cycle idea, or to try a recycling area :) I have tried to discuss with DP that I created this post to discuss the options for the items..he has made it clear that he doesn't want to! Hopefully will be able to discuss at another time

OP posts:

Sunnydayshereatlast · 04/07/2020 17:28

I gave a broken dolls house away via Gumtree... Recipient extremely appreciative - a project intended for a grateful dc when finished he said!!
Lots of Pinterest ideas for a broken cot also!

MitziK · 04/07/2020 18:13

Tell him you're taking them to a charity shop.

Just stop at the tip first.

Littlemissdaredevil · 04/07/2020 18:17

I would dump it. People will be worried that they have been chewed by vermin or worse urinated on by vermin.

I used to volunteer in a charity shop and we used to get rid of damaged and dirty stuff. There isn’t enough volunteers to mend, fix, clean things.

My DH is the same just tell him you are going to the charity shop (via the dump)

Littlemissdaredevil · 04/07/2020 18:19

There is a local charity where I am that will pick up unwanted furniture and electric appliances and then they give it to people who have been re-homed who have nothing. I gave them all the furniture out of my dads flat and a fridge. However, none of it was broken or chewed by animals!

Gingernaut · 04/07/2020 18:19

If people could repair and use them, then why is he hoarding damaged stuff in the loft? They're clearly no use to anyone gather dust up there.

Clean them up and get them to a charity shop.

They'll quickly sift through and skip anything that is useless.

ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing · 04/07/2020 18:23

Please don’t do what gingernaut suggests, it costs the charity money to get rid of unusable stuff.

slashlover · 04/07/2020 18:25

Clean them up and get them to a charity shop.

They'll quickly sift through and skip anything that is useless.

Please don't, I work in a charity shop and we have to pay for the bin service. People giving us their old rubbish actually costs us money.

RandomUsernameHere · 04/07/2020 18:25

Agree with advertising them for free on a local Facebook page or freecycle. Some people enjoy upcycling things.

Ragwort · 04/07/2020 18:26

^^ Please do not take them to a charity shop, I manage a charity shop and since reopening two weeks ago we have been inundated with donations ... at least 50% are unsaleable and we then have the problem of trying to recycle them responsibly. It is quite shocking what some people consider 'fit for the charity shop'. I am now turning donations away ... and then a few people get indignant as if we should be accepting everything .

We do get some lovely donations though, for which we are very grateful.

NoAdventureNoTime · 04/07/2020 18:37

Do not give damaged items especially furniture to charity shops. They do not have the resources to fix peoples damaged goods. I never understand why people think they would want them, unless it the charity's specific thing that they do. Standards charity shops even the furniture ones don't want them! They have to dispose of them and pay for the privlage to do so as well as having the time to dismantle them to get them in the bins.
If you have a valuable piece of furniture that is damaged that you think someone can fix ring them first and ask.
I can not tell you how upsetting managers and volunteers have been when they see that people have dumped damaged furniture on the doorstep of the shop for them to deal with. It's worse than flytipping as the time and money used in dealing with it is then taken away from the charity to dispose of it.

TimeWastingButFun · 04/07/2020 18:41

You'll just be passing on the problem to a charity shop when they're already overwhelmed at the moment. Just ignore him and bin them. People without much deserve things in excellent condition, not squirrel infested things!

safariboot · 04/07/2020 18:42

This is a message to your husband, from one hoarder to another.

Let it go. It's rubbish. It's not doing you any good to hoard everything. I will never be "minimalist" but I intend to keep only what I know I have a use for. Not stuff I "might use some day".

NoAdventureNoTime · 04/07/2020 18:50

Pop them on Facebook. Hopefully If they're worth anything they'll go quickly and you'll make some money out of your efforts.

ToBBQorNotToBBQ · 04/07/2020 21:04

Noone wants or needs your tat. Bin it.

Thisismytimetoshine · 04/07/2020 21:08

Nobody wants damaged crap from your attic . As for selling it - give over.

Gingernaut · 04/07/2020 21:27

Sorry

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