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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU regarding neighbours rubbish

21 replies

CasaLuna · 27/07/2020 18:30

More of a ‘what would you do?’ I guess! (Lighthearted)

Neighbours are okay, we don’t see them much, but for some reason they just leave their bin bags out in the front garden (we have wheelie bins) and the foxes rip them all to shreds.

So pretty much every two/three days whenever a new bag gets taken out a whole load rubbish (cartons, empty wrappers, takeaway boxes, packaging WITH THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS ON, bottles, cardboard boxes, etc.) blows into our front garden.

DP thinks we should suck it up and pick it up but I really don’t want to do that. I can’t just leave it because I hate that it makes our house look scruffy but I feel like throwing it back is too passive aggressive so I’m asking what would you do?

Don’t really want to knock as we don’t know them and I can’t be bothered getting into a neighbour war with them. At the end of the day, there must be a reason in their minds why they can’t/don’t want to use the bin provided so asking them probably won’t make much difference.

OP posts:

slipperywhensparticus · 27/07/2020 18:40

Do you have a fence so you can fence off your garden?

Fairybio · 27/07/2020 18:43

Take the rubbish round to them and tell them it has blown into your garden. Pleasantly. And do it every time it happens.

Original poster

CasaLuna · 27/07/2020 18:43

We have one but it has gaps in it, it’s like a cast iron decorative fence! No use at all.

OP posts:

Seeline · 27/07/2020 18:47

Do they actually have bins? Round here, wheelie bins often get nicked.
Does the rubbish get collected if not in a bin - ours would just be left.

If they have bins, can you just dump the bags in them if they won't. I would be speaking to them though.

Kamma89 · 27/07/2020 18:50

Just go round & talk to them. Introduce yourself, explain what's happening. 9/10 people have no idea they're impacting you negatively & if they do know & don't care/change post it back through their letterbox!

Original poster

CasaLuna · 27/07/2020 18:57

@Seeline

Do they actually have bins? Round here, wheelie bins often get nicked. Does the rubbish get collected if not in a bin - ours would just be left.

If they have bins, can you just dump the bags in them if they won't. I would be speaking to them though.

Yep, they definitely have a bin. It’s right in front of their house with the number on it and everything.

I just want to answer the question regarding the refuse collection as I thought someone would ask but didn’t want to make my initial post massively long.

We’ve recently switched to wheelie bins. We used to do it the old fashioned way where the refuse collectors picked the bin bags up from the kerbside and chucked them in the lorry.

We still have weekly collections meaning the new huge bins don’t get filled so the collectors sort of open the bins to see if they’re full. If there’s only a bag or two, they’ll lift them out, go to the next house etc. then eventually they’ll fill a bin from one household and take that one bin to the truck, if you see what I mean. So they’re quite happy to just pick them up and take them to the next bin.

In a twist to the story though, these neighbours moved in AFTER we adopted wheelie bins so it’s not like they’re used to the old system! It’s so ODD.

OP posts:

Shizzlestix · 27/07/2020 18:58

Don’t they have wheelie bins? If so, politely ask them to use them, I’d be really fed up of ripped bin bags going everywhere.

Shizzlestix · 27/07/2020 18:59

Oops, cross post, sorry.

Fatted · 27/07/2020 19:03

I would just knock on and say that unfortunately their rubbish is ending up in your garden. Don't be passively aggressively chucking it back over. I used to live in a terrace and we had bags for our recycling. On bin day, everyone always ended up with a garden full of everyone else's recycling.

Bargebill19 · 27/07/2020 19:09

Oh god I soo know your pain. We’ve had the same issue - only resolves when I started to put their rubbish back through their letter box.
It worked for me. They bag it and bin properly now.

Original poster

CasaLuna · 27/07/2020 19:13

Some good suggestions, thank you!

It’s so weird because they come and go all the time and they just walk past it. They can see it’s blown all over our garden and into the street but they just don’t acknowledge it. Sometimes they’ll even step over it if there’s something in front of their gate!

OP posts:

WB205020 · 27/07/2020 19:13

I would go round there and say their rubbish is in your garden and can they remove it. If it keeps happening id speak to the council.

Chloemol · 27/07/2020 19:17

Ask them to move the wheelie bin to where they put their bags

Original poster

CasaLuna · 27/07/2020 19:21

Interesting to see there’s no support for DP’s idea to just pick it up. I really don’t want to go out litter picking every few days!

OP posts:

NoSquirrels · 27/07/2020 19:22

I feel like throwing it back is too passive aggressive so I’m asking what would you do?

I would knock and make them aware - politely - that their habit of not putting the bags in the bin was an issue, because of foxes.

Don’t really want to knock as we don’t know them and I can’t be bothered getting into a neighbour war with them.

If you speak to them politely about a perfectly reasonable issue, there is no chance of a "neighbour war".

You can't go around not speaking to people about things on the off-chance they might not see your point of view. Anything at all you do without speaking to them will be passive aggressive and more likely to cause a "neighbour war" than a polite "Hello, we're from next door and I just wondered if I could have a word with you about the foxes..."

Original poster

CasaLuna · 27/07/2020 19:30

@NoSquirrels

I feel like throwing it back is too passive aggressive so I’m asking what would you do?

I would knock and make them aware - politely - that their habit of not putting the bags in the bin was an issue, because of foxes.

Don’t really want to knock as we don’t know them and I can’t be bothered getting into a neighbour war with them.

If you speak to them politely about a perfectly reasonable issue, there is no chance of a "neighbour war".

You’re probably right and it’s likely the most reasonable solution but I just can’t for the life of me understand why they wouldn’t do it already. Maybe they’ll say “oh you’re right, we’re sorry!” But... they can see it. Every single day. They know it’s happening so I don’t think it will as clear cut as that.

OP posts:

Gottalovesummer · 27/07/2020 19:32

We've had same issue.

I've knocked on their door and politely told them the foxes have been at the bin bags.

They then come out and pick up rubbish.

andweallsingalong · 27/07/2020 19:32

Can you pop some mesh on the back of your fence to stop the rubbish coming through?

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 27/07/2020 19:35

Ask them if they are able to access the bins, explain the fox issue.
There are a couple of people in my building who aren't tall enough to lift bags into the bins.

RedRumTheHorse · 27/07/2020 19:41

@andweallsingalong

Can you pop some mesh on the back of your fence to stop the rubbish coming through?

^^This and speaking to them before informing the council.

If it blows on to the pavement they can be done for fly tipping. Lots of London councils make it clear if you are in a household without a wheelie bin and put your rubbish out on the wrong day, you can be done for fly tipping.

Original poster

CasaLuna · 27/07/2020 19:42

@andweallsingalong

Can you pop some mesh on the back of your fence to stop the rubbish coming through?

You are brilliant! This is a great idea, thank you!

OP posts:

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