...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!

How old are your children? Open them carefully and save for arts and crafts?

When your kids are old enough they can help granny with her recycling and tell her how important it is. Mine did that after lessons at primary school and it has ‘finally’ changed my ILs views. Thankfully they listened to their grandkids but not us.

And if I notice recycling in a standard bin I’d take it out too.

Shmithecat2
YABU, and a massive hypocrite. Your children are more environmentally damaging to the environment than some glitter paper.

Not helpful.

Because it’s true and you don’t want to admit it? Why are you allowed to criticise MIL but other people can’t point out your environmentally questionable choices?

Not ideal, but just hope that the presents aren't plastic tat that no one wants.

I really like Primark's paper carrier bags, printed without huge logos and just red stripes and the suggestion that you can reuse them as wrapping paper.

I think you need to take a step back about the glittery paper on Christmas Day. ‘Sad’ is a bit strong, given all the other things going in in the world that could be considered sad.

You’re not unreasonable to be annoyed she doesn’t recycle in general.

You are being out of order to check her bins. My mother does this to us (we are dutiful recyclers, so I’ve no idea why) and it’s beyond intrusive, just plain rude!

Hi I'd reuse it, I'm doing the same with some shiny wrapping paper I have.
I was looking this year to get special recycled paper and tape but its so expensive so I'm opting for a big sack and no paper this year 🙂 I will be informing the kids santa has gone green!

The fact that it didn't even occur to you to reuse the paper (until posters suggested it), shows you're not as "green" as you think.

If that was your initial plan for the paper, there must be lots of other things you're wastefully throwing away, instead of reusing.

I completely agree with you. Glitter should be banned, it’s so ecologically damaging. The best you can do is try and make sure the glitter doesn’t get into the water system.
Ignore the people telling you to get a grip, it’s a shame that more people don’t realise how destructive it is to water ways and animals.

Would you ‘say something’ to anyone else…or is it only mil that gets the criticism?

Keep it for crafting and get a grip.

You need to stop going through her bin.
If I was you and my mum was your mum, she would be saving recylable plastic and putting it in the general rubbish bin when she knew I was coming to wind me up and make a point that I need to stop sticking my beak in. She would have found the most disapproved of plastic tat for Christmas presents too.
( My mum was a an old school environmentalist , I spent my 80s childhood washing and reusing tinfoil and plastic bags.)

Sad?

Lots of us struggle with Xmas as we mourn lost loved ones and you are sad over glitter

Get a bloody grip.

I'd be putting it in my burner in the garden. I don't know if it's worse to burn glitter paper than to send the glitter to landfill but I guess at least it won't end up in the oceans like other micro plastics.

Yabu it's one day a year.

Bloody hell the OP on this thread! Not sure whether to snort with laughter or be 'sad' along with OP due to her attitude and the bin checking twattery of her dh.
As pp have mentioned if your biggest angst over Christmas with the inlaws is glittery wrapping paper, well brava to you. There are children out there with no gparents, ones with cognitive impairments and abusive ones.
I'll be at work helping people who can't see their loved ones due to new hospital visit restrictions so will only get a facetime or call supported by staff.
Stop the sanctimony for Christmas at least!!

Nah, OP does need to get a grip. She didn't even think to reuse the paper. She seems to want to shame her MIL more than anything.

Yanbu. I'd be the same in my own wanky eco way .
I'd never say anything though.

Christmas must be a joy with you around! Just unclench for a couple of days. It's not recycling that will make a difference. It's huge corporations finally halting their polluting practices.

@fourandtwo

Shmithecat2 YABU, and a massive hypocrite. Your children are more environmentally damaging to the environment than some glitter paper.

Not helpful.

Because it’s true and you don’t want to admit it? Why are you allowed to criticise MIL but other people can’t point out your environmentally questionable choices?

All of this.

It’s clearly an inconvenient truth that having kids is the single most damaging thing one can do to the environment.

The phrase ‘cherry picking’ comes to mind 🙄

Hang on, so are you not allowed to ever be sad about something because some people are much sadder about other things? The idea of animals dying painful deaths from ingesting glitter because humans like shiny things can make you sad. Or should we just not care?

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

I agree, but it's her decision what she buys for wrapping, not yours and this isn't the time to be preachy. Let it go. Maybe drop it VERY SUBTLEY into conversation because perhaps she's completely unaware and you might plant a seed for next year so she thinks more carefully.

But frankly with the sheer amount of masks, plastic gloves and plastic casing/tubes that make up billions and billions of lateral flow tests and PCR kits being flung in thebn daily over the last 2 years I'd say a bit of glitter wrapping is the very least of the environment's problems.

Instead of binning it, maybe you can turn it into part of a craft project?

Its post's like this, that make so many people anti-woke. I feel sad about homelessness, not about glittery paper.

@somehowsunshine

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

Why can't you recycle the glitter paper as wrapping paper? Use it to wrap her next birthday, mother's day or Xmas present

Just re use it?

YABU and need to get a grip really.