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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that my inlaws could recycle if theyactually tried?

137 replies

ska · 03/03/2008 12:43

they are rich (13 bed house) and have 2 full time members of staff. Plus others. They told my milaw 'it's such a shame that we can't recycle because we just don't have the facilities' when pressed they said because they don't have kerbside collection (mind you maybe its the mile long drive that's the problem...)

aaarh!!!!!

OP posts:
ArmadilloDaMan · 03/03/2008 12:44

of course they could if they wanted to.

They obv don't want to.

DarthVader · 03/03/2008 12:48

I think you are being unreasonable in that it sounds as though you seek to impose your values on other people.

Recycle yourself by all means but other people have every right to make their own decisions.

blueshoes · 03/03/2008 12:50

Ska, once the council introduced kerbside collection, my recycling efforts went through the roof. Before that, I could not face the thought of having to lug my recycling to the bins, on top of my busy schedule of caring for a young family. Bad me.

But seeing your inlaws have staff, it would be quite a simple thing for your inlaws to set a system in place which the staff can follow ...

rookiemater · 03/03/2008 12:50

My parents refuse to recycle, although they haven't got quite as many rooms, they are both retired so plenty of time to do it.

Their reasons well my father is a scientist and claims global warming is made up and there is no point in us trying to do anything when the developing countries are growing so fast and he reckons it all goes in a tip somewhere so we shouldn't bother.

He may or may not have a point or two, but honestly. It would take them about 10minutes per day to sort the stuff out. Some people just don't like extra work, particularly if they can't see the direct benefit to them.

madamez · 03/03/2008 12:53

WTF has it got to do with you? They are probably winding you up because they are sick of being whined at.

rookiemater · 03/03/2008 12:58

Madamez, you're in a particularly charming mood today

I guess recycling has something to do with everyone particularly those with children, because they are the ones who are going to be living on the planet that we have left them.

But heck yeah, why should I bother, nothing to do with me.

OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 13:01

I think it's got to so with everybody hasn't it?

rookiemater - my dad also refuses to beleive that global warming is caused by human activities. This from a former nuclear engineer who read Lovelock back in the 70s and beleived coal and gas burning was the work of the devil. But he's a bloody minded old g*t bless him and now everyone's on the bandwagon he's jumped off it . However he recycles religiously. Between them they have about 1/4 of a black bad of rubbish every week.

blueshoes · 03/03/2008 13:02

I find that people either care about things like recycling, and are willing to take the effort, or just whinge like crazy at having to do it, because they cannot be arsed.

I don't bother to make non-recyclers recycle. It is not worth the effort. You either get it or not.

Having said that, ska clearly cares and she does not deserve some of the replies she is getting on this.

nametaken · 03/03/2008 13:09

Ska, do they live in the UK - because if they do then I believe it's only a matter of time before local councils start handing out hefty fines to people who don't recycle and charging for our rubbish by weight.

The UK is about to receive huge fines (were talking millions of euros) from the European parliament for putting too much into landfil and local councils will be responsible for paying these fines so they are bound to pass the extra costs on to the consumer.

Recycling is here to stay, might as well get used to it and start doing it.

avenanap · 03/03/2008 13:10

You are not being unreasonable for wanting then to save the planet for your children.

OrmIrian · 03/03/2008 13:11

I agree nametaken. We soon won't have any choice.

VictorianSqualor · 03/03/2008 13:15

No, you're not being unreasonable.
XP's mum used to say what a bane the new recycling boxes were because she had to remember not to put her cans in her kitchen bin and instead open her back door to put them in the recycling box

mrsruffallo · 03/03/2008 13:15

YANBU- If they have staff of course they can facilitate recycling.
It is just laziness- we should all be doing our bit for the planet.
I don't understand being anti-recycling even if you don't believein global warming- sutrely the whole concept of using things again is better than rubbish dumps everywhere!
Madamez- Unneccesarily rude, don't you think?

bitofadramaqueen · 03/03/2008 13:16

ska - it sounds like they cant be bothered and are just coming up with an excuse. It must be a huge hassle for them to ask the staff to have different bins for different rubbish .

I can understand why it annoys you - sorting wouldn't even be a massive hassle as it sounds like they have enough space to have different bins for different rubbish etc.

I'd be tempted to pretend to believe them and offer to find out where the staff could take their recycling for them...

Original poster
ska · 03/03/2008 13:20

for me its about trying to do my bit and total astonishment that anybody should think that they couldn't do something. i guess i am imposing my values on them - but then doesn't everybody, really? i do recycle and yes I always have and we chuck about one back bag a week plus 1 recycling bag. we compost and feed scraps to dog/chickens. we have 3 kids. they have 4 - surely they should be responsible and stop being so lazy?

OP posts:
Original poster
ska · 03/03/2008 13:22

maybe i'm jealous tho think i wouldn't want their life. my kids quite like being 'poor' (in reality we are above average income i think) and having to all muck in.

OP posts:
mrsruffallo · 03/03/2008 13:23

I agree ska- and it is important to bring up your children to respect their environment and see recycling as the done thing, not a pita

sleepycat · 03/03/2008 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LieselVonTrapp · 03/03/2008 13:35

Its none of your business, the fcat that they have considered it and explained their reasons should be enough

mrsruffallo · 03/03/2008 13:37

The planet is everyone's business. I tell everyone I know to recycle.
I am more afraid of our waste destroying the planet than of offending someone

LieselVonTrapp · 03/03/2008 13:38

ah well.

lollipopmother · 03/03/2008 13:47

We recycle now that there is a two-weekly collection, but I had never recycled before the collections were introduced, neither would I now to be honest.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 03/03/2008 13:55

I also think everyone should recycle because it's everyone's planet. I'd rather not pay my taxes but as it's for the greater good, I do.

They must have outbuildings if they have a house that size? I have large cardboard boxes in an outhouse that I fill to the brim and take to the dump once a month or so. Having the space to do this makes it much more convenient than it is for those living with an overflowing Council-issue basket in their kitchen. I think your in-laws are lazy and/or uneducated.

theBOD · 03/03/2008 13:56

i only recycle because it is cheaper since they introduced a fortnightly collection which is much cheaper than putting them in our weekly bin which is charged for every pick up.and i only bring bottles etc to the bottle bank for exactly the same reason. if bin collections were still free i wouldn't bother tbh as i don't agree with the arguments about global warming.

Original poster
ska · 03/03/2008 14:00

well not uneducated (GPs)so it must be the other thing. they have 2 kitchens and plenty of outbuildings

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