...to feel sad that MIL has wrapped presents in glitter paper?

[somehowsunshine]

Can't recycle it. She knows we try really hard to recycle. We are always finding recyclable plastic in her general waste bin. My DH and I will have to bite our tongues on Xmas day as we scrunch the glitter paper into the bin. I know my husband will want to say something but it will make MIL feel bad and make us look ungrateful. I can't stand glitter!

Goodness you sound like two guests I'd actively be avoiding at Xmas.

@KaycePollard

Your children are more environmentally damaging to the environment than some glitter paper.

You might not like to read this, but it’s true.

You’re virtue signalling over some wrapping paper. How many cars do you drive? Are you vegan? What jobs do you do?

Most of us contribute to environmental damage in many more ways than not recycling a few pieces of paper. Most of us don’t inspect other people’s rubbish bins ….

Yes let’s just not do nothing to help the environment because we need a car to be able to make a living due to poor urban planning .

Maybe we should accept some of the choices we need to make and still do the best we can in other parts? Or should we just give up and stop recycling, keep all the lights on all the time, leave all the taps open, buy a big diesel Range Rover, get a coal fire etc?

Plastic is not recycled no matter what bin of is placed in. The plastic 'recycling' in our country is shipped abroad where it is dumped or burned so your worries are neither here nor there really.

Good grief.. what a kill joy at Christmas!

Maybe op and her dh could be less Judgemental Raccoon and more 'Positive Womble'
🎵making good use of the things that they find (in MIL's bin) the things they are sad MIL left behind🎵 ?

Gosh OP of all the hills to die on, this one is bizarre. Just unwrap the presents carefully and recycle the paper for next year. Recycling doesn't just mean putting out in a box for the council to collect.
Exactly. OP if putting rubbish in the correct place helps you sleep at night and stop environmental damage guilt away, reusing it is just as important.
Challenge yourself to use it 5 times.
My nanny used to take back our wrapping paper in the 80/90's for the next Christmas, she would stand over us so we didn't mark the paper.

If someone posted on here about their MIL rummaging through their bins it'd be a pile on to the MIL. That's really out of order!
Poor woman!

@MichelleScarn

Maybe op and her dh could be less Judgemental Raccoon and more 'Positive Womble' 🎵making good use of the things that they find (in MIL's bin) the things they are sad MIL left behind🎵 ?

@MichelleScarn

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Shmithecat2

YABU, and a massive hypocrite. Your children are more environmentally damaging to the environment than some glitter paper.

ODFOD

You can put as much stuff if your recycling bin as you like, the reality is that most of it isn’t recycled anyway.

Out of interest, does your DH berate any men he knows and go through their bins? Neighbours, brothers etc? Or does he only bully your MiL?

I think MIL should put something like those paint dispenser things they have in security van bags in her bin. Then her DS will be purple faced for a few days and learn to mind his own business.

I understand wanting to save the environment and I understand that glittery paper is a no no. But a) your MIL spent time choosing the paper and b) it gives her pleasure. It's, presumably, one roll of paper - once a year. Perhaps, next year, one of you could go shopping with her near Christmas and help her choose something that looks glittery or bright but is recyclable. Much less sanctimonious and more help to her. Turn it into a nice day out though - not a preaching trip.

As for the bin ... there's a big difference in saying 'want me to check your bin for recycling mum?' when he pops round (and abiding by her answer as it is her home, not his) to just delving into her privacy. And it is her privacy. There could be all manner of things in her bin that are not his or your business.

I think she's a saint for putting up with it from him. My DS would have got the food bin emptied on his head for being so disrespectful. And I'd be rooting through your bins on my next visit just to show you how it feels.

Maybe her Mil does do other stuff though?

People have different passions and interests also there is now a lot of eco friendly glitter around!

I just feel so sorry for the poor woman innocently doing her best and buying gifts etc and without realising it her extreme evangelical children are silently seething at her

Can we have her op?

Wow, your mil has gone to the effort of buying and giving presents to you, but you’ve used this to look down your noses at her for using glitter paper.
And as for going through her bins…..unbelievable!

It sounds as if you don’t like her very much!

OP, I completely agree with you. We have not bought any wrapping paper for years, finding more than enough around the house from deliveries, gifts other have bought, etc.

But it is going to be difficult to explain this to your MIL without sounding sanctimonious.

The best thing you can do is carefully open the presents and reuse the paper your MIL has used on the gifts you give her family next year.

After all in the waste hierarchy it is reduce, reuse, recycle.

somehowsunshine

Can't recycle it. She knows we try really hard to recycle. We are always finding recyclable plastic in her general waste bin.”

You look through your MIL’s bin? Blimey.

I hate glitter anyway so YANBU. It gets everywhere and is impossible to clean.

You don't sound like nice house guests. If I found someone rifling through my bin they would not be invited back again.

I wonder if there are people who act like "consultants" to come and assess how much more we can do to be eco friendly?

None of us even those who try to be eco friendly can possibly be 100% in normal life it's impossible.
Op ask your Mil to buy you a consultation for next Xmas because whilst your berating her for paper choice I'm sure you yourselves are making far bigger innocent mistakes.

@somehowsunshine

It's so unnecessary though. Normal wrapping paper can go into the recycling bin.

It can't, can it? Most of it is non-recyclable, glitter or no.

Why are you looking in her bin?

Gosh you two are fun please come round mine

Get a grip, she's trying to do something nice. Just get over it for one day.

Why are you inspecting the contents of her bin?!

Be grateful she's got you some presents.