Why Middle-Class Americans Are Turning to Dumpster Diving

Investing Answers ^ | 9/15/11 | Michael Synder

[EBH]

I don't fault these people for dumpster diving. In fact, in an odd sort of way I applaud them for recognizing that a lot of good food does go to waste simply because the 'government' put an expiration date on it. A regulation required some sort of date stamping.

Years ago foods like this would have been donated to churches and food banks, but with the regulations the way they are...legally it has to be thrown out.

Even our canned foods have an expiration date on them these days. Many of us older folks know that canned food is good long past the expiration date if the can is not bulging, dented, or damaged in some manner. But the government says you can't sell it or donate it.

Now there is that little matter of the average household having 13 credit cards!!!

[al baby]

I have done before

[sten]

if you’re dumpster diving, you’re not middle class

and you have no class

you’re on the edge of civilized society and falling into the gutter

[Tijeras_Slim]

13? I have 1 and it makes me nervous.

[freejohn]

Been there .. Done that!

Also got some Great hot pizzas .. after closing time behind Pizza Hut!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“...you’re on the edge of civilized society and falling into the gutter...”

Thanks to Big Government, we TAXPAYERS are being PUSHED rather than just falling of our own accord. :(

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Over here... ;)

[freejohn]

I am guessing here .. You’ve never been Really, Really hungry and didn’t feel like stealing?

[forgotten man]

Dumpster divers have green jobs. Here in California this green industry is thriving.

[umgud]

When I was about 10 years old, me and a freind found a brand new package of chocolate covered graham crackers in a dumpster behind a mom & pop store. I’d eaten several of them before I saw the maggots coming out the little holes.

I swore off dumpster diving and I haven’t eaten a whole graham cracker in the 50 years since.

[KingKongCobra]

I saw a TV documentary about this nearly a decade ago. Hippies in New York were doing it to be cool.

[ReneeLynn]

Amazing how many things under the Obama administration have attempted positive spins on them even though they’re horrible. ‘freegans’? It’s a ‘freakin’ shame. Thank you, Barry. I wonder if Michelle is or ever has been a ‘freegan’? Nah.

[SERKIT]

That's so Seinfeld.

[EBH]

Two thoughts here....

Either you’ve never been hungry...like really hungry

or

You have never worked at a grocery in Jan. when they toss out all the frozen turkeys that didn’t sell. Or the expired cans of sweet potatoes

or

the week old...but still good fruits and veggies...

[Hot Tabasco]

I applaud them for recognizing that a lot of good food does go to waste simply because the 'government' put an expiration date on it.

Which also contribute to higher food costs.........

[mia]

I don't fault these people. Dumpster diving can fall into many categories. . . food (eek), scrap metal, electronics, picking up old furniture to refinish, etc. I know several people who are scraping. They need to do this to subsidize their incomes.

People do what they have to do to exist, or to maintain their pervious lifestyle.

[moondoggie]

Back in the 90's during the Colorado drought, we asked a local supermarket for spoiled apples and other fruits and veggies to give to the Division of Wildlife to feed the bears. (they used to do that years ago)

They told us it was against the law, so we waited until the stuff went in the dumpster and crawled in and "stole" sometimes only slightly bruised fruits and vegetables.

After seeing first-hand the good things businesses throw away, dumpster diving is mighty tempting.

[GSWarrior]

For some reason I am not buying into this.

IOW, I don't believe that middle class Americans are turning to dumpster diving.

[JoeProBono]

[EBH]

Just for you to view...

http://youtu.be/8VlFJsuBjA0