Posted on 01/22/2025 2:50:17 PM PST by nickcarraway
Yle catches up with a 'freegan' who's been using dumpsters to stock his pantry for years.
Teemu Arppe tells Yle that he loves a good find, which is why he dives into dumpsters for nearly all of his groceries.
The Helsinki-based chemistry teacher is also a self-professed 'freegan', which means he wants to help the environment by reducing waste.
"You never know what you'll find, and that's what makes dumpster diving so much fun," he said.
Arppe, who's been getting his dinner from dumpsters for years, says people are generally adopting a more positive attitude towards rescuing food.
Also known as blogger Onni Tonkija (roughly translated as the 'Lucky Scavenger'), he has been dumpster diving for food since 2011. He now travels across Finland, searching for edible finds in apartment buildings and store bins.
This past weekend, he spoke on the topic at a food waste festival in Oulu. Yle caught up with him to find the answers to five burning questions about the food we throw out.
1. Are people's attitudes changing?
"Dumpster diving isn’t popular enough yet for there to be a crowd forming at the bins. But I do occasionally see other divers. I can't say for sure if it's become more popular, but it feels like it might have," he said.
"People have realised that 'best before' dates are just recommendations. Stores have strict policies to discard food as soon as the sell–by date has passed. Awareness is steadily growing that these products are safe to consume if you smell and taste them first," he explained.
2. Are you seeing different products thrown out now than before?
"There's less ground meat in apartment building garbage rooms compared to ten years ago — instead you see more plant-based products."
3. What compelled you to start dumpster diving?
"I happened to peek into a dumpster in our apartment building — and noticed there was food in there. I hadn't realised people throw away food like that," he said.
"Many people worry about food making them sick if it's even slightly past its date. I encourage them to try it first — food can often still be eaten even if it's a little old."
4. What's the strangest thing that's happened when dumpster diving?
"One night, I went into the apartment building's waste compactor. I was rummaging when someone came in to throw out their trash. They screamed when they saw me and ran off before I could reassure them," Arppe recalled.
While Arppe also searches for food during the day, he said he prefers nights. "It's quieter then, and the atmosphere is magical."
5. What are your tips for someone wanting to get started?
"There's no better time than the present. Hit the dumpsters as soon as enthusiasm strikes."
Do you like Worcestershire Sauce?
Just curious ...
It has a certain ingredient which is loathsome by itself but blends quite well with the other ingredients in the sauce.
[Do you like Worcestershire Sauce?]
Well, I guess ya got me there - that one I do
But it doesn’t come off as “fishy” - but admittedly that’s just me
That’s the funny thing. It has anchovies ... but it doesn’t taste like anchovies. Some kind of arcane culinary wizardry is going on there.
Yeah - love the salty hit it does but one has to use it lightly
I used to eat barely touched burgers and fries out of the dishes when I was 16 and a dishwasher at Friendlys.
The sundaes would melt but sometimes i’d get what I could :)
Wasn’t all there from a very early age.
For a short time I volunteered for a Riverside California non-profit organization that got free food from the state. I was stunned at how much food California throws away. Warehouses so full of food that they move it in pallets with fork lifts. They have just about any food you can find in any major grocery store.
Bear claws are good for at least a day. Or so they tell me.
A local store had a similar problem, throwing out all of the frozen foods after a power outage. Food was still safe...but they called the police to guard the dumpsters.
Have you seen what passes for normal, lately?
Twinkies are forever.
In the ‘90s I worked at a five star resort in HI. The leftover food from convention dinners and events were donated to churches and organizations that fed the homeless. It was AMAZING food!
The (socialist) state made that illegal and it had to stop. (WTF?) For us, it was OK ‘cause all the food went to the employee lunch room — no charge ever.
Best done in a cooler climate. Finland is prime DD country.
Not argueing about the dumpster diving aspect of this...
But the guy is traveling across Finland to find expired food cans? Finland is not exactly a cheap place to drive around from bin to bin. It would seem to me it probably costs more to eat for “free” than it is to just buy some groceries.
Well you’re living on the street and craving something hot
That’s simmering in a dumpster down by Popeye’s parking lot
Smell the rich aroma: a fragrance to entice
Of dirty deep fried chicken and dirty dirty rice
—Timbuk 3, Dirty Dirty Rice
Good way to get real sick.
I visited Helsinki in January for work once. Ice and opaquely lit windows everywhere. I wouldn’t call twilight from 1000 to 1400 a “day” though.
Canned goods in particular have a very long shelf life, regardless of any best-use-by date. If kept in a cool, dark dry place they are good for over 25 years.
In 1969 I ate C Rations dated 1945. Many years ago a river boat was found at the bottom of some muddy river dating back to the 1800’s. Canned peaches were rescued from that wreck. They were opened and found to be good enough to eat.
Many places sell freeze dried meals with a shelf life of 30 years. I bet if properly stored that could be doubled. We buy Mountain House brand, and many of their meals are very good to the taste and filling.
When it comes to fresh foods, that’s where I’m picky.
Yep. The only way you know it’s going bad is the green or black spots which is bacteria.
Lately I’ve been rotating through my older tuna packets that are about 18 months past the “best buy” date. No issues.
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