...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!

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 can not be real.
There's something seriously wrong with someone who would do this.

How often do you shower OP?
Do you have a car?
How many children do you have?
Do you ever fly?
Are you vegan?

Because in the grand scheme of things MIL using some non-recyclable wrapping paper (which might have been made from recycled paper in the first place) for a handful of presents is nothing. I know all the nothings add up but you could re-use the paper instead of moaning about it - or ask her to stop gifts altogether as that's not environmentally-friend.
Ditto for not recycling - depending on where you live the supposed "recycled" waste gets tipped anyway. I'm in another country which is always banging on about recycling and has done for years. We all recycle everything and end up driving half way round the fucking countryside to dispose of some of it because there are no local collections of certain things (eg. I have to travel 40 km to dispose of batteries.....). And the majority of the waste - "recyclable" or not, ends up either getting burnt or shipped off to South America to be "disposed of" there.

@somehowsunshine

I think I'll try to reuse the paper and save it in my presents bag. That's a good idea.

It's surprising how easy it is to do this if you are moderately careful when unwrapping things.

Nowadays I wrap presents using a mixture of reused paper from previous years, saving any 'pretty' paper I come across during the year (e.g. Celtic & Co package their clothes in a beautiful thick tissue paper that's perfect for wrapping), and using fabric/ribbons.

He does it to make a point

So rude. You both sound insufferably pious, but I notice you haven't answered legitimate questions about your own environmental footprint - number of children, number of cars, other travel ...

Virtue signalling.

The comments on this thread make me realise that the human race deserves to destroy itself. But at least we got to enjoy a bit of glitter.

@JudgementalRaccoon

Just here to find a new username

Recycling at its finest!

I only buy recyclable paper, but I don't expect others too.

My mum has made lovely reusable present sacks this year which I was quite chuffed about!

If it's anything like my wrapping paper it's 20 years old and comes down from the loft every year having bred up there. I swear I haven't bought wrapping paper for decades but it never runs out.

The comments on this thread make me realise that the human race deserves to destroy itself. But at least we got to enjoy a bit of glitter.
That's a bit extreme isn't it?

@bluebeach

The comments on this thread make me realise that the human race deserves to destroy itself. But at least we got to enjoy a bit of glitter.

Are you ok? This seems a bit dramatic.

@stayathomer

The comments on this thread make me realise that the human race deserves to destroy itself. But at least we got to enjoy a bit of glitter. That's a bit extreme isn't it?

I mean she makes a fair point. Mil could just listen and try.

Yabu

@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.

Unless he's regularly going through everyone's bin, you're pissing in the wind...and likely to piss off his mum...

Much better to really but gently ram home the impact on the environment for her grandchildren.

We managed it with my father... Who thought recycling was pointless.... 5 years later he fills a large recycling bin and hardly any landfill... And he's in his 80s, so it is possible...

@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.

My advice to her is to kick him in the bollocks.

@bluebeach

The comments on this thread make me realise that the human race deserves to destroy itself. But at least we got to enjoy a bit of glitter.

U ok hun?

donate it to a local scrap store, I'm sure local schools or afterschool clubs would appreciate it.

Bloody hell!
Talk about First World Problems.

This is more of a thread to bash your MIL.
Rein in the number of DC to help the environment, not worry about a bot of wrapping paper that can be reused in a myriad ways.

I agree that there are a lot of people who could easily recycle more and there's really no excuse not to at home with all the various collections we have in this country.

But to criticise her choice of wrapping paper at Christmas? Just no. Get over yourselves. If you're that concerned, but her reusable gift bags for her or send her a nice selection of recyclable paper next year.

@bevelino

We are all going to see some batshit posts over the next few days and this is just one of them.

Yeah but not as bad as being too emotional to cook a Turkey. I think that was on here. Funniest thread ever, this thread is just full of sanctimony.

@bluebeach

The comments on this thread make me realise that the human race deserves to destroy itself. But at least we got to enjoy a bit of glitter.

Merry Christmas 🎅

@JudgementalRaccoon

Just here to find a new username

Hahahaha happy to help

@bluebeach

The comments on this thread make me realise that the human race deserves to destroy itself. But at least we got to enjoy a bit of glitter.

You're so right. Coercive, passive aggressive, abusive men will destroy us all.

@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.

How rude of him. You both sound awful

Wait till you become a mil and then your dil or sil will no doubt be making similar comments about you both. Best to cultivate a little self awareness before you become a mil.......

@Terfydactyl can we have a link to the emotional turkey thread plz 😆

I think you need to let it go. She probably doesn’t realise. We re-use wrapping paper. We’ve had some on the go for years. It’s a bit of a game - recognise the wrapping paper. We won’t buy any more, though.