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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour stopped putting my bin out ...aibu?

50 replies

itsabunchofhocuspocus · 31/08/2022 14:09

Okay first world problems I know...
Lived in property for 5 years.
It's a terraced house.
Both mine and neighbours bin are next to each other.
We had no chat about it but every fortnight he would put my bin out then on a night i would bring both of our bins in.

A month ago he started just putting his bin out.
I still continued to bring his bin in for him.
Today is bin day and once again he just took his bin out and left mine.

Aibu to keep bringing his bin in?
Should I leave it?
I don't want to be petty and it's no skin off my nose as it takes 2 seconds

What would you do?

OP posts:
TTCRand · 31/08/2022 15:48

Stangerthings · 31/08/2022 15:45

Ask him why. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill.

I’d ask him why too. Maybe he’s upset about something

UnicornMumcraft · 31/08/2022 15:53

If it doesn’t cause you any real bother just keep bringing his in, and maybe take his out from time to time?
I have a similar arrangement with my neighbours but stopped doing theirs a month or so back as I’ve picked up a leg injury and been on crutches. I can just about managed one crutch and a bin, but no way could I do two. Did that for a couple of weeks until the neighbour spotted me and he does them both at the moment, I’ll start helping again when I can.

mountainsunsets · 31/08/2022 16:00

Maybe he struggles with his own bin now and can't cope with yours too.
Maybe yours was disgusting one week, or had maggots.
Maybe he secretly hates you.

Who knows!

SirChenjins · 31/08/2022 16:01

I’d be tempted to stir things up a bit by taking his bin in and leaving yours out there Grin

I wouldn’t though, but it would be funny. Just ask him if he’d rather you just left his out.

CrunchyCarrot · 31/08/2022 16:09

Ask if he's OK and whether he needs help with his own bin in the morning. Continue bringing both bins in unless you get a very definite answer that he doesn't want that.

2u2me2me2u · 31/08/2022 16:10

itsabunchofhocuspocus · 31/08/2022 14:16

I'm not loosing any sleep over it ...just unsure why he's stopped after 5 years

He's nosied in your bin and is offended by your choices 😂

TyneTeas · 31/08/2022 16:30

Start putting both out and see if he brings yours in

Rosehugger · 31/08/2022 16:37

One particular neighbour will bring everyone's in and leave ours out

I'd have to move his a little bit further away down the street 😆

spareroomtears · 31/08/2022 16:38

I love the pettiness of a bin war. Next door to us is an AirBnB now and they are so bad at collecting their bins because the people staying there obviously can’t be arsed to collect them so they are usually on someone’s drive, lawn etc.

for a while we used to drag them back to theirs and leave them on their drive but when we noticed cars were there so people were obviously in we started to wheel them around the corner instead 🙃 it’s so petty but it gives us some joy.

PixieLaLa · 31/08/2022 16:48

It’s a lot more effort moving heavy full bins than it is empty bins, maybe he’s just got fed up of the unofficial arrangement or finding it too much. I wouldn’t take it personally 😊

Georgyporky · 31/08/2022 17:12

Just one bin ?
We have 5.

Calmdown14 · 31/08/2022 17:18

I'd go super nice and either start putting his out or offer when you see him with 'is the bin getting a bit much, I can easily put yours out'.

Sometimes guilting is better than pettiness (until proved otherwise) and you may find there is a proper reason

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/08/2022 17:19

I’d either just stop bringing his in or Id ask him about it. “Do you want to stop the bin arrangement, as I’ve noticed you no longer take mine out” or something of that kind

PinkButtercups · 31/08/2022 17:38

@queenMab99 no I mean they're actually vile. Not all the people are old just most. I have no issue with old people so not sure why my words are being twisted.

5128gap · 31/08/2022 17:45

Wingedharpy · 31/08/2022 15:17

I'm old and bloody gorgeous..........and I do my own bin!😉

Show quote history

Also old and gorgeous.
Bins have to be put out?😊

m00rfarm · 31/08/2022 17:51

Maybe someone else is putting his bin out for him, and he said not to worry bringing it back in, because you do it for him.

AlsoknownasOther · 31/08/2022 17:52

Me and a neighbour had an arrangement informally that it'd be whoever realised first that it was bin night.

If I were you I'd start taking both bins out and see if your neighbour starts bringing them back.

I really don't get all the be petty responses. Why on earth would anyone be petty when 5 years of favours stops?

Be grateful for the years you had, repay the favour and move on.

LexMitior · 31/08/2022 18:28

orbitalcrisis · 31/08/2022 14:45

Have you ever thought it might be your turn to take out the smelly, heavy, full bins and he brings in the light empty ones? It's been 5 years, you've been taking the piss!

This. Its your turn

Cornettoninja · 31/08/2022 18:44

m00rfarm · 31/08/2022 17:51

Maybe someone else is putting his bin out for him, and he said not to worry bringing it back in, because you do it for him.

That sounds plausible.

I also think you should just ask him if he’s okay or if you’ve upset him somehow.

Donotgogentle · 31/08/2022 18:50

Just ask him if everything is ok with the bins, you may as well try and communicate given you’ve had a friendly arrangement for 5 years.

Or do the Skegness thing 😁

Crumpleton · 31/08/2022 18:55

We're you on speaking terms with each other or just done bin duty?
Maybe for some reason they find the bin to much to take out now. Knock their door, smile and ask if they're ok.

Beautiful3 · 31/08/2022 19:34

Is he elderly? If so, I'd carry on as normal, he might have a bad back. If he's not elderly just bring your own in.

NoSquirrels · 31/08/2022 19:36

Have you ever said ‘Thanks for always taking my bin out, neighbour’?

SouthOfFrance · 31/08/2022 19:43

I'd take both bins out next time and see what happens.

If he's genuinely unable to manage 2 bins because of ill health etc then it will be helpful of you

If he's just got fed up or pissed off with you for some reason then this might mess with his mind.

Win win.

spareroomtears · 31/08/2022 20:02

In all seriousness, this thread has reminded me to put my bins out for tomorrow morning - thank you

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