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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are there ever circumstances where it’s justified to throw litter from a car?

174 replies

AmyDances · 13/07/2025 15:25

Every time I go out for a walk near us, I end up coming back pissed off. The verges along the roads are covered in litter – bottles, cans, fast food packaging, and I’ve seen dirty nappies. It’s even worse on the big roads. It’s disgusting and completely unnecessary.

I just don’t understand the mentality. Who thinks, “Oh, I’ve finished my drink, better lob the bottle out the window”? Or “I don’t want this bottle of piss / dog poo bag / dirty nappy in my car for a second longer so I’ll drop it for someone else to pick up.”

So, AIBU to think people who litter like this are just total cf? I just don’t know how they can have so little respect for their environment or other people who have to deal with their mess.

OP posts:
Fifthtimelucky · 14/07/2025 22:44

I have thrown apple cores out (only in rural
areas where there is a hedge) on the grounds that they provide food for small animals.

I wouldn’t throw out something like a banana skin or orange peel, as I’m not sure anything would eat them.

Fogey · 14/07/2025 23:24

CaptainMyCaptain · 14/07/2025 22:05

They probably throw their rubbish out of their house windows I used to live near a woman who threw dirty nappies out of the window of her 1st floor flat lobbing them in the general direction of the communal bins.

Edit: this was 40 years ago so not a recent thing.

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That’s pretty gross!🤪🤢

Lostinmiddleage · 15/07/2025 00:29

Happymover · 13/07/2025 16:02

When I arrived in the car park of our local sports centre yesterday the car in the next parking space was just pulling out. They left behind 4 empty drinks cans on the ground.

Each one perfectly placed like they’d sat with the 4 car doors open in the sunshine, finished their drinks, sat the cans on the ground, closed the 4 car doors and drove off. The lazy fuckers were parked about 10 paces from a waste bin 😡

I was in a service station yesterday and walked past a lowlife woman sitting stuffing her face in her car - she chucked her ketchup packet out of the window, to join other rubbish she’d obviously chucked out. I said ‘seriously?’ as I walked past but now really regret not throwing it back in her window. You never know what they might do though, if you drop litter you’re a sociopath. My kids used to loudly say ‘he just dropped litter’ or ‘ew that smoke is gross’ 😂. It wound me up for hours, my husband thinks I’m crazy to let pondscum get to me but it’s bloody awful.

Obeseandashamed · 15/07/2025 00:37

Nope but I have heard people say i”t’s better to throw out eaten fruit like banana peel/apple cores as they will decompose onto grass rather than going the bin” 🥴 Don’t agree with it though!

PluckyBamboo · 15/07/2025 00:39

I used to thow apple cores as a child, haven't eaten an apple in the car for probably 40 years though.

Maybe the occasional fag end back in the day when I was still living my immortal best days.

And, chips if we're sitting at the beach having a chippy and a seagull is giving me not so subtle hints. (Yes, i know that's bad but it was just one chip!).

lostinthesunshine · 15/07/2025 00:56

I can offer some insight because my mum (now in her late 80s) used to do this from my childhood, right the way through until she stopped driving in her 70s.

She genuinely thought it was beneath her to deal with rubbish, thought that she’d be “doing someone out of a job” if she took her own rubbish to a bin, and also seemed to think it didn’t count if no one saw her.

Believe it or not, apart from this she is a genuinely wonderful person. Honestly!

McTootsBagpipes · 15/07/2025 02:16

I once had the windows open as I was driving, and some paper flew out of my car. I turned around and went to pick it up. I got it and was very relieved. I would hate to cause litter.

hattie43 · 15/07/2025 05:50

I live on a road and am constantly clearing away rubbish . People don’t care anymore . Nothing is respected , everything is too much effort and people aren’t brought up well .

noodlebugz · 15/07/2025 06:47

No - I don’t imagine the scum of the earth will be along to defend themselves - but there must be an awful lot of them!

noodlebugz · 15/07/2025 06:51

Backtothebestbits · 13/07/2025 15:44

I agree OP - I haven’t driven for several years so walk everywhere and can guarantee that every day I am picking up rubbish that some other selfish idiot has just thrown out of their car. McDonald’s, KFC, you name it, just hurled out. I also have to walk through parks and wooded areas and it’s the same there - so depressing!

I’m just watching a programme on Switzerland and they have it absolutely right, they have Environmental Wardens in the town centres and they literally spend all day issuing fines to those that litter, spit or throw fag butts in the street. Of course we have councils here that can’t even pay for the major services, let alone have wardens out patrolling, but we do need it!

@Backtothebestbits The wardens would more than likely pay for themselves with fine revenue but the yobs would be too aggressive - it’d be a very dangerous job. What if they approached someone in a town where spice is a problem who was off their tits?

Debbean4 · 15/07/2025 08:04

I myself am a litter bug, I didn't see my self as one till I paid £140 fine to the council, back story, no I don't drop litter I can't stand people that do, I pick rubbish up if I see it, there is no excuse, one morning while driving to work along a country lane I through my banana skin out of the car window into a deep ditch, would I have done this with paper, food containers, pop cans no, but my genuine thinking was it would biodegrade or slugs is snails would eat it. I was caught on a Karen's cam and was reported for throwing paper out, they obviously were not close enough to see it was a banana skin, I was mortified to be classed a litter lout as it's something I would never do but now I have a little sandwich bag in my car to collect my morning skin.

CaptainMyCaptain · 15/07/2025 08:10

Debbean4 · 15/07/2025 08:04

I myself am a litter bug, I didn't see my self as one till I paid £140 fine to the council, back story, no I don't drop litter I can't stand people that do, I pick rubbish up if I see it, there is no excuse, one morning while driving to work along a country lane I through my banana skin out of the car window into a deep ditch, would I have done this with paper, food containers, pop cans no, but my genuine thinking was it would biodegrade or slugs is snails would eat it. I was caught on a Karen's cam and was reported for throwing paper out, they obviously were not close enough to see it was a banana skin, I was mortified to be classed a litter lout as it's something I would never do but now I have a little sandwich bag in my car to collect my morning skin.

Karen - seriously? Does that describe anyone who objects to litter and is able to do something about it? You deserved the fine. You shouldn't throw banana skins out of the window.

mambojambodothetango · 15/07/2025 08:23

Apple core in a bush. Even then I wonder if I'm knocking out a poor mouse.

mambojambodothetango · 15/07/2025 08:24

Debbean4 · 15/07/2025 08:04

I myself am a litter bug, I didn't see my self as one till I paid £140 fine to the council, back story, no I don't drop litter I can't stand people that do, I pick rubbish up if I see it, there is no excuse, one morning while driving to work along a country lane I through my banana skin out of the car window into a deep ditch, would I have done this with paper, food containers, pop cans no, but my genuine thinking was it would biodegrade or slugs is snails would eat it. I was caught on a Karen's cam and was reported for throwing paper out, they obviously were not close enough to see it was a banana skin, I was mortified to be classed a litter lout as it's something I would never do but now I have a little sandwich bag in my car to collect my morning skin.

Who is Karen? Seriously, I'd love to know.

AllPlayedOut · 15/07/2025 08:27

mambojambodothetango · 15/07/2025 08:23

Apple core in a bush. Even then I wonder if I'm knocking out a poor mouse.

It’s still litter. Put it in the bin. Why do so many people think that it’s ok?

Elfie25 · 15/07/2025 08:40

Never acceptable. It’s one of those things that really shocks me if I see it. That some people still think it’s ok to do.

Laurmolonlabe · 15/07/2025 09:07

No- try this , imagine yourself standing up in a court of law explaining your actions- are there any circumstances where it is not a slovenly and anti-social thing to do-no there isn't.

dhfoody47 · 15/07/2025 11:01

Absolutely NO, none at all.
Monkey see, monkey do - if your parents/carers do it, you'll do it.
Whoever does it STOP IT!
One of my pet hates....
Grrrrrrr!
Rant over 🤦🏼‍♀️

HRTQueen · 15/07/2025 11:02

no

Namechangerage · 15/07/2025 11:14

AIBU to think people who litter like this are just total cf cunts.

Fixed it for you! People who throw litter are just a total waste of human life.

Namechangerage · 15/07/2025 11:17

lostinthesunshine · 15/07/2025 00:56

I can offer some insight because my mum (now in her late 80s) used to do this from my childhood, right the way through until she stopped driving in her 70s.

She genuinely thought it was beneath her to deal with rubbish, thought that she’d be “doing someone out of a job” if she took her own rubbish to a bin, and also seemed to think it didn’t count if no one saw her.

Believe it or not, apart from this she is a genuinely wonderful person. Honestly!

Sorry to tell you, but nobody who does this is a wonderful person. They’re a person who has no respect for where they live, other people or nature. It’s gross.

Namechangerage · 15/07/2025 11:20

Lostinmiddleage · 15/07/2025 00:29

I was in a service station yesterday and walked past a lowlife woman sitting stuffing her face in her car - she chucked her ketchup packet out of the window, to join other rubbish she’d obviously chucked out. I said ‘seriously?’ as I walked past but now really regret not throwing it back in her window. You never know what they might do though, if you drop litter you’re a sociopath. My kids used to loudly say ‘he just dropped litter’ or ‘ew that smoke is gross’ 😂. It wound me up for hours, my husband thinks I’m crazy to let pondscum get to me but it’s bloody awful.

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I’ve picked up someone’s litter before and given it back to them saying “I think you dropped this”. Also once a school kid dropped litter just outside the school gate, I picked it up, went and handed it to the head teacher and pointed out the kid. God I’m turning into a right Victor Meldrew but I don’t care 🤣

kay1bee · 15/07/2025 12:36

EverardDeTroyes · 13/07/2025 15:38

If I was on a long journey with no chance of stopping at a bin and I had a bag of puke with me, I have to be honest and say I might dump that but that is because I am phobic of puke.

Other than that, no. I can't understand people who litter. If I accidentally dropped the tiniest piece I would pick it up immediately. I was brought up that way. Even throwing biodegradable things like apple cores. We were allowed to do that as children, but now I imagined it is frowned upon as interfering with habitats.

Rule 147 of the Highway Code should answer everyone's queries... It is against the law.

HangryLikeTheHulk · 15/07/2025 12:44

noodlebugz · 15/07/2025 06:51

@Backtothebestbits The wardens would more than likely pay for themselves with fine revenue but the yobs would be too aggressive - it’d be a very dangerous job. What if they approached someone in a town where spice is a problem who was off their tits?

Show quote history

Why is this a problem in the UK though, like why aren’t crackheads in Switzerland assaulting the wardens ?

What is wrong with the british ?