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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:
Bagelsandbrie · 23/12/2021 07:37

I feel sad for your mil if you’re going to let this shadow over what sounds like a nice gesture.

shouldistop · 23/12/2021 07:37

He looks through her bin? And he would want to say something to his mum about the wrapping paper she's used?
Christ Confused

PieMistee · 23/12/2021 07:38

I hate it too, but I get a gold star as I am currently just about to start wrapping the stocking stuff from old wrapping paper which we've had for years. The kids expect FC to bring old paper.
I do hate the "it's only a few presents" but multiply that by a million and that's a fuck of a lot of unnecessary landfill. It's not like there isn't a simple same priced alternative. Not hard to buy non plastic non glittery paper!

Twixxed · 23/12/2021 07:39

FYI some areas don't take any wrapping paper (except brown paper) for recycling - the scrunch test thing doesn't always apply.

EdenFlower · 23/12/2021 07:41

At least the paper itself, although can't be recycled, will decompose quickly in the environment, only the little bit of glitter will remain!

fluffi · 23/12/2021 07:41

YABU. If I found anyone going through my bins just so they could moan at me they wouldn’t be getting an invite again.

Or I’d tapping my bins shut / deliberately leaving gross things at the top of the bin for the rude, nosy people going through my stuff!

Luckyducky75 · 23/12/2021 07:44

This would fill me with rage, I know your concerns are environmental and that's because you're a better person than I am but I'd never speak to her again due to the fact it takes forever to get rid of the bloody glitter from every surface 🤬

Bluntness100 · 23/12/2021 07:45

That would give me the ick, watching him going through her bin being all sanctimonious and trying to make a point. It’s some glitter paper, the pair of you need to try calm down.

Fendidntdrake · 23/12/2021 07:45

I feel so sad for your mother in law that I actually want to go out and buy glittery paper in solidarity with her. And I used plant based sellotape and brown paper this year.

We were saving and reusing wrapping paper in the seventies btw.

Bettyboopawoop · 23/12/2021 07:46

How lovely that the Mil has bought you some presents, I wish my mother in law was still around full stop.

Shinychestnuts · 23/12/2021 07:47

Don't blame your mil, blame the retailer who stocks it! Campaign to change people's perspective about it. But don't let your dh be rude to his mother about it on Christmas day!

Bagelsandbrie · 23/12/2021 07:47

@fluffi

YABU. If I found anyone going through my bins just so they could moan at me they wouldn’t be getting an invite again.

Or I’d tapping my bins shut / deliberately leaving gross things at the top of the bin for the rude, nosy people going through my stuff!

Yes this. Just unbelievably rude.
ImInStealthMode · 23/12/2021 07:48

YANBU to want to recycle and use less non-recyclable things as a family yourselves.

YABU to feel 'sad' about someone else's choice of wrapping paper.

Smileyaxolotl1 · 23/12/2021 07:48

People like you make me want to deliberately thrown all the recyclable stuff in the general waste and buy a new plastic water bottle every day.
Sad because a relative bought some pretty paper for Christmas? FFS

Aderyn21 · 23/12/2021 07:48

I bet you are fun at parties!

If you were my dil, you'd get Christmas cards filled with glitter Grin

aramox1 · 23/12/2021 07:49

Reuse it! We keep ours for years. With nice ribbons (also keep forever) it usually looks fine. This is a bit of a stupid thing to feel sad about tbh, are all your presents recyclable?

Grida · 23/12/2021 07:51

You may want check how much rubbish that we put into the recycling actually gets recycled. It is a bit depressing though, so you may not want to. It will put the glitter tape into perspective.

Grida · 23/12/2021 07:52

Sorry, meant to say glitter paper.

Isthisjustnormal · 23/12/2021 07:52

If recycling is a priority for you, surely reusing paper yourself (for wrapping or crafting) is much lower footprint than putting paper in the recycling bin? Reduce and reuse before recycling….

rwalker · 23/12/2021 07:54

@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.
In that case wouldn't surprise me if she's done it on purposed I would.
Twinkleylight · 23/12/2021 07:54

Can you open the gifts at her house or near her so that she or her house get covered in glitter? She won't buy it again as she'll be finding it in random places for the next 10 yrs.

On a more serious note, be grateful that she buys you a gift because many in laws don't bother.

BusBusBus · 23/12/2021 07:54

I was under the impression that vast majority of our recycling gets dumped on poor nations and is causing real problems. I sometime wonder if landfill in the uk is a better option!
So re-using old paper is the best option.

Chocolatewheatos · 23/12/2021 07:55

YANBU to be sad but it would be U to say something. I try to avoid glitter and get sad when people buy balloons and stuff, I just see where it ends up. But it's their choice and would be rude and ungrateful.

Thatsplentyjack · 23/12/2021 07:55

So sanctimonious

CriminalOrator · 23/12/2021 07:55

Bet it looks under the tree lovely though!

I’d save your sadness for things that truly matter. Not your MIL’s recycling habits. Most wrapping papers can’t be recycled either.

Also, I don’t know if you know what happens to the ‘recycling’ when it’s taken out of your bin, but it isn’t whisked off to a magical land where elves turn it into useful items. A lot winds up in landfill.