Aug
31
2007
31
2007
Dumpster Diving
Filed under: Activism, Consumerism, Dumpster Diving, Following Jesus, Food, Trash
I’ve been meaning to write about dumpster diving for awhile now, but Colin at No Impact Man beat me to it. Be sure to watch the video he posted from CNN and also all of the comments on his post…it’s a great eye opener. A fortune 500 executive dumpster diver? Who woulda thought?
I just cannot wrap my brain around the fact that we as a nation throw away and waste so much food every day…and yet there are people who go to bed hungry. Why on earth would a restaurant or grocery store taint food it throws out for the sole purpose of keeping people from eating it? They threw it out…it’s trash in their eyes. Why not let someone else make use of it? I just don’t get it. I can understand why they would be upset if someone was taking food from their dumpster and making a mess around the area, but one of the generally known rules of dumpster diving is to leave the area cleaner than you found it.
I have never gotten food from a dumpster (although I have found other lovely household items like this!), but I am certainly not opposed to it…and have been quite fascinated by it for awhile. What a brilliant form of activism…the ultimate in anti-consumerism. Freegan.info describes the activism side of it like this:
“Freeganism is a total boycott of an economic system where the profit motive has eclipsed ethical considerations and where massively complex systems of productions ensure that all the products we buy will have detrimental impacts most of which we may never even consider. Thus, instead of avoiding the purchase of products from one bad company only to support another, we avoid buying anything to the greatest degree we are able.”
I think this might be why people are so opposed to letting their trash go to whoever wants it. Food, trash, possessions….they are all highly political. The choices you make about these things reflect your values. And when you get your food from a dumpster, it makes others uncomfortable…like you are judging them for NOT getting their food from the dumpster. They don’t understand it, so they fight against it. They can’t imagine themselves doing it, so in their mind…it’s wrong/weird for anyone to do it. There seems to be feeling of “if I have to work hard for this…then you do too!”.
In the book Evasion, the anonymous author brings up the absurdity of it all:
“There is the odd paradox — the casualness with which they will throw something into the dumpster, and the lengths they go to protect it once it’s there. How an innocent and harmless act — dumpster diving — will be confronted by greedy shopkeepers, store managers, and employees with scathing words, rage, and violence. “
What would Jesus say about dumpster diving? I think he would hold weekly dumpster diving parties. He would be right there inside the dumpster with everyone else…exclaiming words of joy when he finds a sealed box of bread or a bright shining apple. He would take the food and feed those in the neighborhood…and then go fight for better processes when it comes to food waste!
I think one of the biggest reasons for people throwing things away, wasting food, etc. is pure laziness. I am just as guilty as anyone else of this….although I am much more mindful about my choices now. Household items that you could Freecyle get put in the trash because you’re in a hurry. Restaurants throw out food because it takes too much work in their mind to partner with a food bank or homeless shelter. There needs to be a greater network of people who are willing to be the liason and fill the gap. How about a restaurant with only dumpstered food? A health inspector’s worst nightmare, I’m sure…but what a wonderful thing for a community. And Jesus would be the general manager 
More resources:
Everything you ever wanted to know about “freegans” and dumpster diving at Freegan.info
A friend of mine on MySpace documents her loot here.
How to Dumpster Dive
Photo credit: Flickr/toddmundt
Posted by Sara @ 1:17 pm | Leave a Comment
31
2007
Michael went dumpster diving last month in DSM and found a toddler basketball hoop in great condition! He couldn’t believe it. It could have been Freecycled or garage saled. And it took up so much room. Makes me want to start a dumpster tour! I was so proud of him.
31
2007
I’m proud to say that my dad is an expert at finding things curbside as he calls it!
It’s amazing what people through away. On numerous times he has found jars of coins because people are too lazy to sort through them, roll them, and take them to the bank. Can you imaging throwing away money!
31
2007
Though I’ve never dumpster dived for food, I fully support those who do. We’ve found a lot of quality furnishings in and around dumpsters.
Waste is rampant in our culture, and it’s ridiculous that even waste is so protected. Consume and waste, but don’t consume the waste
. In Colorado this year a few men were brought up on trespassing charges and jailed, despite the shopkeeper not wanting to press charges, for dumpster diving at a natural grocery. RIDICULOUS!
31
2007
I am actually on the receiving end of several companies that choose to GIVE away rather than throw away. The camp that I work with is blessed to have a good relationship with the local Whole Foods and Safeway. Both stores willingly give us anything that they need/want to get rid of. Our camp is blessed with fresh fruits and veggies that are just about to expire, so the store can no longer sell them.
The only thing they ask of us is that we come and pick it up once a week. Maybe you’re right. What we need is people willing to take sometime to pick it up.
We are so thankful for these companies that take the time to set aside their “waste” that we can use!
31
2007
I’ve done my fair share of dumpster diving as well – grew up with a mom who ran a thrift store and wasn’t afraid to take something for free out the trash. My favorite find so far is a very nice queen anne style armoire with only minor chipping of paint and all in a lovely red color. I think it would take a lot for me to be able to forage for food. But the one thing I would be very leary of is upholstered furniture – especially given the resurgence of bed bugs around the country! But there are lots of things I am willing to pick up – and our city is one that has big trash pick up days 2 times a year – you should see all the roving freegans then!
31
2007
I agree, it is just laziness on the part of restaurants and markets. There are so many shelters and people that would benefit from this leftover and it is all just being thrown away. It is disgusting and I am happy to see you and others like impact man bringing this to everyone’s attention. So that maybe others will be inspired to do the same. I just wanted you to know that you inspire me with every post that you write. I look forward to reading your blog:)
31
2007
You are making me feel so conventional–I have never been dumpster-diving! Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
In college my brother and I did “food salvage” once a week, which involved going around to a few dorms, picking up the containers of food leftover from dinner in the dining halls, and dropping it off at a homeless shelter near our campus.
This was a great program, but it was a pretty big undertaking, involving a lot of volunteer hours and donated cars.
I totally agree that it is disgraceful for restaurants to throw out food that could be given to the needy.
On the other hand, who is going to provide the volunteers to pick up all that food after closing time and drop it off where it is needed?
Who is going to staff the homeless shelters or food banks late at night, after dinner has been served, to pick up the food donated by restaurants and make sure it gets stored properly?
I think this would be a fantastic charitable cause, but the restaurants are not going to donate their labor to make it work. Someone would have to do a lot of thinking and organizing, and provide a lot of labor and vehicles to make it happen.
31
2007
I remember watching an episode of Wife Swap & the Rios family did this… http://abc.go.com/primetime/wifeswap/episode/320/manual_rios.html It was nice to see positive exposure for this type of lifesytle. Great POST!
Smiles @ Loving Green
~ Sam
31
2007
Thanks again, Sara, for bringing these kind of topics to light! Every time I read your blog, I am continually blessed, challenged, and encouraged. I am aware of dumpster-diving, but yet, like many others, don’t really like to think about it. Thanks for reminding us that we need to think about these kind of issues!
Nothing huge or anything, but a month ago, I found 2 “Cooking Light” annual hardbound cookbooks just laying next to the dumpster, in near new condition! (Cooking Light is fantastic, btw) My only assumption was that they were trash, so of course, I claimed them!
Keep up the great work.
1
2007
This post really got me thinking…I work at a health food store and I have to throw tons of perfectly good food away every day. Unfortunately, my boss is such a cheapo, not only can employees not take any of the food but we have a lock on our dumpster so as he says, homeless people can’t break in and steal the food. I live in a very conservative Christian area, and I have a hard time understanding how people can call themselves followers of Christ, wearing their WWJD bracelets, yet failing to do what Jesus would want us to do. I don’t get it…..
1
2007
I admit that I don’t often spend time thinking, “What would Jesus do?”, but I have to agree that he would be horrified by the rampant consumerism and gross income inequality in our society.
Sara, I bet you would enjoy reading about the Diggers, Christian radicals from 17th century England. They would fit right in at the dumpster-diving party!
http://www.diggers.org/english_diggers.htm
1
2007
I think that restaurants and stores protect their trash because they are worried about loosing profits. If you can get it a little stale or slightly damaged for free from their trash, why would you pay full price in the store? I know that doesn’t excuse waste, but I think that is their motivation. It shows that our entire economic system needs to be rethought. It depends on rampant consumerism and waste.
For instance, my printer has a tiny little thing wrong with the paper feeding system. It should easily be able to be fixed, but the printer and the repair kits are designed to make it extremely difficult and expensive to repair. To date three repair/retail stores have told me to just throw it away and buy a new one! Why, I ask, when it is excellent except for ONE missing part? Why can’t I buy just that one tiny plastic part? Why does it cost $200 to repair? Built-in obsolescence drives me crazy! Still working on finding a way to repair it. I refuse to believe the only option is a new printer.
Interesting reading: Susan Strasser’s Waste and Want: A Social History of Trash. Before the 20th c., trash was basically non-existent and everything was reused! It discusses how our constantly changing technology and fashion, as well as our mass market economy, are responsible for trash as it is today.
1
2007
The best place I’ve ever found is the college dorms. I scored an almost-new pair of Gap jeans in my size because they had a grass stain on the knee and I guess the girl didn’t know how to do laundry. I’ve also found Cole Haan shoes and all kinds of other good stuff. It’s amazing how college kids will throw stuff out that daddy paid for.
1
2007
Here is another freegan family who was on wife swap http://abc.go.com/primetime/wifeswap/episode/206/manual_kestrel.html
Another great blog as usual!!
2
2007
Once upon a time, my mother talked me into sharing a bank account with her (she never had enough money), and the consequence was that I was without funds for about a month.
I was so hungry I went looking for edible garbage. That was one of the low points of my life.
I agree that there is far too much waste. However, there are liability issues associated with dumpster diving, and so a reason that the owners of the dumpster are going to discourage you. Be careful.
2
2007
[...] Waste in the Corporate World September 2, 2007 Filed under: Crunchiness, News/Politics — sarahtar @ 12:40 am Sara writes today about Dumpster Diving. [...]
2
2007
Once, I was dumpster-diving with some friends at the local university campus, notorious for the best finds at the end of the year. Anyways, we were stopped by the police, who informed us that we were stealing from the garbage company, as, once it is in the trash, it is their property. I was holding a whole bag of fancy drawing pens at the time, and felt very, very sad. They made us leave our stuff there and not come back for a month.
On the positive side, San Francisco is a city where locals put their stuff out on the sidewalk rather than throw it in the dumpster. Almost every dressy item of clothing in my wardrobe is something I’ve “ground-scored” in S.F., plus much of my furniture. Computer monitors, couches, furniture, clothes, anything people don’t want they set outside for someone to come along and collect. It’s unspoken but known.
And also, when we cooked for the kids in the park, there was this cool service called food runners, where this guy drove around the city collecting food from various hospitals, restaurants, catering businesses, and then dropped it off to us to give away. So we’d find ourselves trying to figure out what to do with a trash bag full of green beans.
Anyways, sorry for the long comment, but there are many, many ways to deal with waste, and many people have found creative ways of making sure it goes to those in need. May there be many more!
2
2007
From my expierance in working at fast food resrataunts, they claim the reason they taint the food and/or attempt to lock it up is to help prevent them from being sued if someone should happen to get sick from eating the foods. Also to keep the bums away from the store. when you’re an employee….there’s ways around the dunpster LOL! If the manager is nice and knows you pretty well, there’s sometimes benefits too. Been there done both of them! Wasting food, in our house, is unheard of.
3
2007
I have a small shed that I built using all materials from dumpster diving at a housing development. Also, many small family farms in my area have been turned down by food pantry organizations when they offer their surplus of fresh fruits and vegetables. The food pantries don’t want them either because it is fresh fruits and vegetables that can spoil or because no one can come to the farm and pick them up. To me, it makes no sense why fresh food can’t get to those who need it nor, why our developers throw so much usable wood and shingles and nail in the dumpster.
4
2007
My husband and I are notorious dd’s. When you walk through our home and garage, we can point out items in every room, most of the time to the disbelief of those who are looking, that were off the curb. They just needed a little tlc. I can’t imagine just tossing things that still have life. Only rarely do we-if I can freecycle it, I try to. And we often find things that are too nice to leave, fix them, then find someone else who can use them. My husband has fixed up old push lawnmowers and weedeaters he has found and waited to hear someone who couldn’t afford a new one needed it, then gave it to them. It has turned into a ministry for him. We recognize other divers during the trash throwaway days in the Des Moines metro area-and you would never know we were unless you asked. Just don’t like waste-or spending unnecessary money.
4
2007
one time my sister, mum and I were leaving a juice restaurant when we saw a guy with a big garbage bag over his shoulder headed toward the trash can in the corner of the parking lot… he returned to the Einstein bagels right next to us… we all looked at each other and laughed and we ran to the dump. the bag was on top but as heavy as the dickens, filled to the brim with bagels and other pastry-type goodies… it was so heavy and so laughing and crying from laughing we three carried the huge bag to the car, shoved it in the trunk and drove away… oh the joy that night when we sifted through the hardly touched bagels and bagged them into individual flavors and handed them out to college friends. some even went into the freezer for a rainy day… thanks Einstein for putting out trash we could steal, next time maybe you could give it away yourselves??
4
2007
I have never had the guts (I suppose) to eat thrown-out food… also, I live in an eensy weensy town, so there aren’t as many opportunities here.
On the other hand, I have acquired a good bit of very nice things that others have discarded. At our local dump they have a separate section for “white items” (large items like furniture that can’t be put into the compacter). We’ve found several usable things there, including a beautiful, simple, solid wood coffee table that only needs a bit of refinishing to look like it came out of Pier One.
4
2007
My sister has found some nice things this way.
5
2007
I have no problem with keeping things found in the garbage, but eating food from there scares me a little! Sometimes grocery stores throw out things for a reason. Things that have been recalled, are no longer safe to eat, or have been found to carry bacteria.
5
2007
Wow…there are some really fun and inspirational comments here. Thanks for sharing everyone! Yay for dumpster diving!
12
2007
My dad use to do ulpholstry. He use to pick up old abandon furniture and finish the wood, change out the foam and material, then resale it for big bucks! The older stuff with the solid wood is still wonderful and is better made and is in high demand. He would never tell that he just put a little bit of money, about 6 or so hours, and then sold it!The return was wonderful. –most of the furniture was from the dump. –
13
2007
I’m all for rescuing furniture and the like, but isn’t the point of restaurants tainting food primarily for health reasons? Of course they wouldn’t want someone eating out of thier dirty dumpster and then end up ill or even die of food poisining! They’d be at fault and of course they need to protect themselves. I’d hate to hear of someone getting sick of dying when it’s clearly preventable.
Yes, if it is something that can be eaten, they should give it to a shelter, but I guess that many do (even if just for the tax credit). But not all food can’t be given away. Also, it’s hard sometimes to give away everything and some non-profits have a hard time getting the food to thier people before it goes bad.
13
2007
Olive…I understand your point, but I can’t really even imagine a court case where the dumpster diver sues the restaurant…especially because it’s extremely RARE that anyone would get sick from dumpster food. The same rules that you abide by in your kitchen can apply to dumpster food…if it smells bad, don’t eat it. If it’s covered in ants and looks nasty, don’t eat it. The founder of freegan.info has been eating out of dumpsters for 10 years and has not one time gotten sick. I have probably eaten more “bad” food that has made me sick in restaurants than I would ever find in a dumpster.
Our country’s fear of being sued is a whole other issue…it’s so sad. It causes so many problems…and holds people back from doing many things. There is a law (http://www.sustainablefoodservice.net/cat/food_donation.htm) that says restaurants can’t be sued for someone getting sick on donated food. Not sure if it applies to food that was TAKEN and not donated. Does anyone know more specifics on this law?
13
2007
I’m embarrassed at the quantity of food I purchase and then fail to eat in a timely manner. Although I have no plans to hit the dumpsters any time soon, I am inspired to make better decisions about the type and quantity of food I purchase and, furthermore, to reduce my personal food waste. I think I’ll start by eating the leftovers tucked in the back of the fridge for lunch today, rather than letting it rot like I usually do.
14
2007
Sara,
I totally agree that our society has gotten to a “sue happy” position and it’s absurd.
And, yes, obviously someone shouldn’t eat food that looked/smelled bad. But, wouldn’t everyone (society) be angry a restaurant for thier “negligence” if someone did get sick? Even if they weren’t “liable”? I still think that’s why they taint their food.
26
2007
My tv (32″!!!), my fish tanks (all…10? of them… i’ve lost count at this point) the chair my fat @$$ is in right now, as well as the (throughly modern) computer i’m typing this on, as well as the better part of a mile of ethernet cable, (i’m a massive nerd so sue me) and a truly massive quantity of tech stuff have come from the dumpster. On the one hand, I hate that people throw away so much… on the other… it makes my life much easier.
26
2007
The mobile park that I am in has used the old identity theft ploy to stpo me from the good stuff.They even have people watching me Can they leagly do that ?
14
2008
Freecycle is kind of like online dumpster diving. Don’t you think? Well, kind of, sort of, in a way. Brian and I should be better about reusing — we do envy people who trash less. We, humans, throw away SO much.
14
2008
Christy…yes! It’s like dumpster diving without the stink
hee hee.
7
2010
I too have found money discarded, many times.
10
2010
[...] Money is thrown out regularly. Besides the usual pennies, there are entire piggy banks that get discarded because the waster didn’t take the effort to roll or spend the coinage they collected. I’ve found caches of coins multiple times, outside my home in a block of apartment buildings. When you think of how many apartment buildings there are across the country, multiply those thousands of coins by how many dumpsters contain hastily discarded items at move-outs, and it’s no wonder the Canadian Mint has to make so much costly new coinage every year. [...]
3
2010
I just love this post. I love the comments about how Jesus would embrace the Freegan philosophy and I have to agree.
T
9
2010
Hey admin , This is interactive posting for my homework from university Do u have twitter account ?? i want to follow your twitt . Good bye