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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

617 replies

somehowsunshine · 23/12/2021 01:06

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!

OP posts:
Divocohw · 23/12/2021 10:37

I'd be more pissed off that there's going to be glitter everywhere.

Camembear · 23/12/2021 10:40

You go through her bin? This must be a troll thread, nobody is this uninsightfully irritating.

WorraLiberty · 23/12/2021 10:41

Your DH needs to stop bin diving, it's embarrassing.

Does he try to control the habits of all the other adults in the street, or does he just see his mum as an easy target?

Tell him to knock on the door of the biggest bloke in the street, preach to him the error of his ways and then come back and tell us how it went Hmm

LindaEllen · 23/12/2021 10:44

@Octavi

Yes get a grip! If that's all you have to worry about you're bloody lucky.
This.
OneFootintheRave · 23/12/2021 10:46

@RightsHoardingRaptor

YABU to be prioritising recycling - by the way you aren't 'recycling' you are simply sending stuff off in the hope that there is enough demand for each material for it to be recycled and sold on, of which a very small percentage does - over being kind to your MIL. She is not the villain here. Big business and policy are. Direct your energy elsewhere and stop being so high and mighty.
Well said.
PhoneKeysBook · 23/12/2021 10:48

Could you be anymore sanctimonious and self congratulatory. Oh the mi Uses glittery paper…if only she was as superior and informed as you. I suggest you and her son stare at her in a cold icy ungrateful manner(can you manage that?) and decry her selfishness for buying presents. Immediately cast her out for her vulgarity.

homealoneagain1 · 23/12/2021 10:49

@somehowsunshine

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling.
I would be livid if someone did that to me. How horrible.
NinaDefoe · 23/12/2021 10:50

@llm24

Wow just wow I actually thought this was a joke when I read the title of this thread
I’m starting to think it is. Look around you OP!
Baileystruffle · 23/12/2021 10:50

I have used wrapping paper this year from whsmith, its brown with glittery shapes on but apparently it is 'bioglitter' and is recycable- is this ok? And is there a chance this is what your MIL used?

LittleRoundRobin · 23/12/2021 10:54

@PhoneKeysBook

Could you be anymore sanctimonious and self congratulatory. Oh the mi Uses glittery paper…if only she was as superior and informed as you. I suggest you and her son stare at her in a cold icy ungrateful manner(can you manage that?) and decry her selfishness for buying presents. Immediately cast her out for her vulgarity.
Grin Sorry but THAT is too good for he dreadful MIL! Horrible woman! Grin
Tink626 · 23/12/2021 10:55

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling.

This is just NOT OK or normal! I'd be absolutely fuming if someone went through my bin.

NatriumChloride · 23/12/2021 11:00

Oh naff off already. Your poor MIL.

DillyDilly · 23/12/2021 11:01

Surely you re-use all wrapping paper paper, even the recyclable paper.

I’m feeling sad that you bin it after one use,

smashingbaubles · 23/12/2021 11:06

@somehowsunshine

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling.
Good god, you both sound fun at parties.
FictionalCharacter · 23/12/2021 11:07

I don’t like that either. Maybe next year, in advance of Christmas, have a chat with her and tell her how you really want to be able to recycle all the paper, and suggest some really pretty non-glitter paper. If she still uses the glitter stuff, at least you tried.

ancientgran · 23/12/2021 11:08

I don't save wrapping paper to reuse. In my defence I am married to a hoarder, I struggle every day with trying to reduce the amount that is kept and ensure his hoard doesn't invade the whole house, well it does but is kept in check but his office/garage/shed/loft is bursting at the seams and I can't cope with keeping any more stuff or encouraging him in his habits.

ancientgran · 23/12/2021 11:09

@FictionalCharacter

I don’t like that either. Maybe next year, in advance of Christmas, have a chat with her and tell her how you really want to be able to recycle all the paper, and suggest some really pretty non-glitter paper. If she still uses the glitter stuff, at least you tried.
Where I live they won't take any wrapping paper in the recycling except brown paper.
NatriumChloride · 23/12/2021 11:09

@PhoneKeysBook

Could you be anymore sanctimonious and self congratulatory. Oh the mi Uses glittery paper…if only she was as superior and informed as you. I suggest you and her son stare at her in a cold icy ungrateful manner(can you manage that?) and decry her selfishness for buying presents. Immediately cast her out for her vulgarity.
My thoughts exactly. This is just a MIL bashing thread in an “I care about the environment!” disguise.

By the way, it is TOTALLY abnormal to go through other people’s bins. Most people would consider this quite invasive. I suggest you and DH sit down and reconsider your lack of boundaries and respect for other people’s privacy and their right to their own choices.

Maassi · 23/12/2021 11:13

You and your husband sound unhinged and sanctimonious about recycling.

Poor MIL having you over while you sit there judging her because of a few sheets of glitter paper that can be re-used, getting pissed off and rummaging through her bins.

Shallwegoforawalk · 23/12/2021 11:16

@ItsDinah

I always reuse paper,glitter or not. I've never scrunched it up and wasted it . Use it for wrapping,covering boxes or books,for cards,decoupage etc etc. When it really comes to the end of its useful life, I use it to wrap noxious or sharp things that are not recyclable and have to go in the general waste. This saves on the wastefulness of having to wash out the wheelie bin.
These are all good ideas.
papayaorange · 23/12/2021 11:16

If your MIL went through YOUR bins, she would be called not fit to burn!

Rooroobear · 23/12/2021 11:18

It pisses you off??? Hahahahah life’s too short to get pissed off about that mate. How about stop going through her bins?? That’s awful…..therefore you’re pissing yourself off by going through them. Here’s a suggestion….DONT

toomuchlaundry · 23/12/2021 11:20

The whole Christmas thing is bad for the environment surely. All presents will be using up resources. Maybe you should have said no presents for your 'environmentally unfriendly' children, never mind no glitter wrapping paper.

TheQuernsSperch · 23/12/2021 11:21

@Lilifer

The OP has gone very quiet - perhaps she has finally disappeared up her own arse 🤔
Xmas Grin
ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 23/12/2021 11:21

Fairly sure that even our plastic recycling doesn't end up actually being recycled, or the percentage is really really low, so unless you are using glass containers of milk, it's mostly going to landfill.

Happy to be wrong.