To ask my family for empty products for the boots recycling scheme?

[merlotandcheese]

I’m trying to save up for a large electronic item, in part using the boots recycling scheme.

I live alone, so don’t generate that many empties. I texted my family group chat to ask if they could put them to one side and I’d pick them up, if they were okay with that.

My sister in law is outraged and has said I’m cheating the system as it’s designed to only work with what you use up. My argument is that it’s basically just one family’s worth of empties. They don’t use the scheme, so nobody is missing out. AIBU?

She’s being ridiculous. The items are still being recycled regardless and would only go in the bin if you didn’t take them to Boots. And as you said they don’t use the scheme so they aren’t missing out.

I feel like it’s better because it means that anything they wouldn’t be able to recycle is now going to be recycled, but she’s adamant it’s cheating

She’s an idiot. Just ignore her!

SIL is being ridiculous.

She’s bonkers and incredibly petty.

What’s the boots recycling scheme?

Be careful another poster saving up their points for a toothbrush had her points taken off her and was ejected from the scheme and possibly advantage card, accused of fraud even though they hadn’t been!

I’d happily hand them over to you.

She is being totally ridiculous. However you can’t make her give you her empties unfortunately!

I love the Boots recycling scheme and it helped me get a Dyson hairdryer for free!

You are creating mess and work for everyone for your benefit. I wonder if that's the actual source of her annoyance.

How does the scheme work?

How?! It’s rubbish they’d be throwing out anyway, and I see them more than twice a week!

How?

Put them to one side... work and mess.

Now OP has said she sees them often it's less mess.

I’m ngl if you don’t sort your rubbish out that’s fine, but I know that they do so tis really not that deep

Do they only take boots branded packages or others too? I assume your SIL thinks they can just put them in their own recycling bin? Bit odd though to not help you out- IF they have qualifying containers of whatever.

I'm on the olio app and someone recently asked on there for empty Lush containers for a similar discount. People can either help or not. Maybe put a post on there too.

They take everything! It’s all stuff that’s difficult to recycle anyway

Is this the tablet blister pack recycling? I save mine and take them but I’m not signed up to collect the points for depositing them.

I’m surprised you’re able to collect the points fast enough. I’ve got 30 items (collected over a relatively long period of time) but I don’t spend regularly enough at Boots to be able to cash them in, and I’m just getting more empties while I’m waiting to need to spend enough to cash the other in!

Has your sister always been concerned about people “cheating” major retailers in this fashion or is this a new thing for her?

You weren’t asking an entire primary school! I find her reaction really odd.

You only need to spend £10 a time, and they always have deals on that make it worth stocking up on things

you download the recycle at boots app. Then save all sorts of “beauty” recycling. I take along all sorts - sanitary towel empty packets, mouthwash bottles. Hand soap bottles. Toothbrushes. Toothpaste tubes. Baby wipe empty packets. Face wash bottles. Can be any brand. When you have 5 items entered in the app take them to the boots store. There is a green box with a qr code usually by the make up. Go to deposit in the app. Scan that QR code in the app. Tick the items you’re putting in The box. And follow instructions. You then get a coupon for 500 points (worth £5) when you spend £10. Activate the coupon in your app when you are standing at the checkout. It takes a few tries to get into the system but it’s super handy. Anytime I use anything I check the app to see if I can recycle it there! Hope that helps. Ps. Don’t put in more than 5 items because you only get 1 coupon per visit.

Maybe you spend more at Boots than I do! But I started cashing them in once a week and I was starting to have stuff stocked piled as I don’t go through toiletries etc that fast, or they’re cheaper elsewhere and it becomes a false economy.

I think for me it’s worth it because even if it’s cheaper elsewhere you don’t get the £5 of points

Same thing happened to me. I recycled genuine empty products of my own. I saved up enough points to get to £90 and then I got a letter saying that I had breached the scheme (but they refused to say how. I checked and I only used it 1-3 a month and the cap was 8). And they took the points and cancelled my advantage card. I never knew why and I think it’s cause I saved up too many points (£5 each time)