Freegans: Dumpster Divers With a Cause

[2sweet]

I saw an Oprah special on dumpster diving "freegans" a couple nights ago. It was pretty interesting. Apparently, grocery stores just dump stuff that is completely edible and fresh immediately after, and sometimes before, the sell by date. Apparently, half of the food produced in the US just goes into the trash.

Now you've got freegans who are trying to consume this so-called waste. It makes you wonder about how much we over-consume. Personally, I'm alarmed by the amount of clothes some of us purchase here on SF.

 

[ratboycom]

Its part of my bling bling lifestyle to only wear a pair of Jeans once then throw them away.

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by 2sweet

Personally, I'm alarmed by the amount of clothes some of us purchase here on SF.
Personally, I don't buy clothing with expiration dates. I also don't let hippies play around in my trash.

 

[LabelKing]

These freegans sound like filthy individuals.

 

[Arethusa]

Wrong forum for the discussion, but they're interesting people. I haven't done it myself, but I've known a few people who've done it intermittently, mostly in activist and homeless shelter situations.

Freegans who go far beyond food, I have much more significant issues with.

 

[Nataku]

I read an article online awhile back about a boy and his grandfather or someone going through the wealthier neighborhood's trashcans on the nights before garbage day. He'd then flip the stuff he found "worthy" of taking home. Can't remember what exactly he said he made on average per week, but the number made me think about doing it myself! Some people are so wasteful. I worked at Panera Bread about 10 years ago and I couldn't believe how wasteful they are! Fresh bagels, rolls, bread, desserts, etc would all go into garbage bags, then to the dumpster of they didn't sell that day. I was appalled and spoke with the manager about donating it to homeless shelters and such. She told me that the higher-ups already said no to the idea and she may lose her job if we carried through with it. ******* greedy-ass bastards. I also heard through the grapevine that Wallgreens trashes perfectly good merchandise (crayons, tissues, pencils, cologne....the list goes on and on). I even heard they lock their dumpsters and even built a cinderblock wall around it to keep people from scavenging. Damn, let the people have their stuff and save the space in the landfills! I probably sound like a hippie here, probably because I used to be one, but it's ridiculous how much big corperations and people in general waste! /End rant/

 

[LabelKing]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/garden/21freegan.html I dareay you could probably find nice things in the trash. What's amusing is how some of these corporations tout their "greeness" and other nonsense, yet still practice such wasteful habits. A bunch of trash as it were.

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by Nataku

...
Writing off unsold goods and merchandise at a loss (instead of donating) is probably far more helpful to the bottom line come tax time. In some cases, I believe there are also liability issues that they would have to worry about.

 

[BYucko]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/garden/21freegan.html

I dareay you could probably find nice things in the trash.

What's amusing is how some of these corporations tout their "greeness" and other nonsense, yet still practice such wasteful habits. A bunch of trash as it were.

Wah, a working iPod? A television? A painting?

Some people are crazy.

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by BYucko

Wah, a working iPod? A television? A painting?

Some people are crazy.
This paragraph also amuses me:

Ms. Brewster and her mother, who had come from New Jersey, loaded two area rugs into their cart. Her mother, who declined to give her name, seemed to be on a search for laundry detergent, and was overjoyed to discover a couple of half-empty bottles of Trader Joe's organic brand.

 

[whodini]

I can't believe I'm the first to post this:

 

[Saucemaster]

Check it out, an Ali Baba sword!

 

[whodini]

I can cut open a camel's hump and drink the milk.

 

[gdc_2008]

Love that show

 

[whodini]

Originally Posted by gdc_2008

Love that show

Yeah, I know your type, you "weekend warrior."