Posted on 03/27/2008 8:39:01 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
(LifeWire) -- Madeline Nelson finds a bag of slightly bruised apples and day-old bread left in a supermarket's Dumpster too tempting to pass up.
"A lot of perfectly good food is thrown away," says Nelson, a spokeswoman for Freegan.info, a New York City group that promotes "freeganism," which eschews conventional commerce in favor of a lifestyle that uses minimal resources.
Freegans try not to buy things new -- not even food.
Jumping into a garbage bin may sound scary, but Nelson, 52, who lives in Brooklyn, says it's no big deal. Humans, she says, are "hardwired to be foragers."
For the thousands who search online for free merchandise, pick up roadside castoffs and even dig through Dumpsters, paying for everything they need is yesterday's news.
At a time when many Americans are on tighter budgets and worrying about environmental conservation, the practice may get more popular.
-- snip --
Here's how it works: As in the "free" section of Craigslist.org, users post what they're giving or seeking, then coordinate the details. On thousands of Freecycle message boards, the dialogue looks like this: OFFERED: Two Pez dispensers. TAKEN: Krups espresso machine. WANTED: Garden hose that works. OFFERED: Adult diapers, size small.
-- snip --
If you go, she advises, bring a friend (in case the lid closes on you) and wear gloves to protect your hands from glass and other sharp objects. Ask your local police department first whether it's OK -- some cities have criminalized Dumpster diving. Don't salvage things that need to be refrigerated or show traces of mold, and thoroughly wash any food you've taken from a Dumpster before consuming. It's also a good idea to conduct a smell test of any food you may take; if it smells bad, it probably is spoiled and should be avoided.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Slightly used, I'm sure.
I hope she finds some throwaway soap there also.
You could lay them out in the sun, and they would be naturally bleached. Just shake and - voila’, new again.
I think this movement will end after a few Fregans die of putrid something or other.
Madeline, good luck with your ‘freegan’ lifestyle. But as for me, no thanks. I don’t go for eating stuff dug out of dumpsters.
You could lay them out in the sun, and they would be naturally bleached. Just shake and - voila’, new again.
I think this movement will end after a few Fregans die of putrid something or other.
Chalk it all up to the demise of the town dump. I’m series.
>>Humans are hardwired to be foragers<<
Boy, does she have me pegged. My wife cringes every time I go to the dump. My idea of “recycling” is not having 3 county employees come by in a $300,000 truck to pick up my Pepsi bottles.
“It’s also a good idea to conduct a smell test of any food you may take; if it smells bad, it probably is spoiled and should be avoided.”
Ya Think!
For years, our one and only grocery store used to set out such items nice and neatly on tables or crates in the back. Everyone would to come by and get stuff. Nothing was wrong with it except that the veggies weren’t pretty enough for display or the bread was old. Of course someone got their knickers in a bunch and made the store trash everything. Quite wasteful, if you ask me. We can’t even get produce for our goats anymore because they must smash up everything so no one will be tempted to salvage it.
This is hugh!
OK, there is a lot of dumpster diving around Fairbanks. We have transfer points where people bring their garbage before it is brought to the dump. For the most part a lot of people are just being cheap, and there are a lot of things people bring there that are perfectly fine. I got our kids swing set and some toys from there, after a thorough cleaning, just fine. There are the few weirdos that pick through all the dumpsters though.
I wonder if super markets are allowed to pass on day old bread, nearly over-ripe produce and other non-saleable (but perfectly fine) products to shelters and food banks.
I would be surprised if they do.
How about “BUM?”
Jumping into a garbage bin may sound scary, but Nelson, 52, who lives in Brooklyn, says it's no big deal
Not for a bum.
<<Chalk it all up to the demise of the town dump. I’m seri[ous].<<
Dump recycling was done in by our friends the trial lawyers. Get hurt on Gumm’nt property = $$. Big $$. I had two college buddies (schoolteachers) who were pulling in over $10,000/yr (cash) diving in a Connecticut dump for antiques - in the late 1970s. The town lawyer eventually stopped them, even though they, unsolicited, submitted notarized release of liability statements.
No problem....If you don’t mind smelling like a dumpster. I guess it’s a mind set thing (sarc. extreme)
A bum would be the person dependent on welfare or stands on the street corner asking for change. I see nothing wrong with dumpster divers. Just don’t get caught in them when the garbage truck arrives.
Stupid is as stupid does.
A man is judged to be a bum by acting like one.
But I do see your point. No offense meant.
I wish someone would come “dumpster dive” in my closet. It sure needs cleaning out-—LOL!
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