Extreme recycling: Food, furniture, diapers - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 03-27-2008, 08:11 AM

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Source: CNN
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Extreme recycling: Food, furniture, diapers
Story Highlights
Everything from food to clothes to furniture can be found in Dumpsters
Freegans turn to Dumpsters in effort not to buy new things
Some Web sites post used items that are free for the taking

Are you an extreme recycler? Send your photos, videos to iReport.com
By Sarah Jio

(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.

Roadside treasures

Sometimes opportunities present themselves.

"I have picked up several free things over the years from the side of the road," says Kara May, 38, a Seattle stay-at-home mom. She recalls her acquisitions with a sense of achievement: There was the easel for her daughter; a set of like-new ceramic casserole dishes; a toy dump truck. Send us your recycling photos, videos

"I'm saving money, but I'm also reducing the amount of stuff that needs to be produced and that eventually may end up in a landfill," says May, a founding member of Going Green Family, a Seattle grassroots organization that helps families run environmentally friendly households.

New York City resident Christina Salvi, 32, agrees that curbside shopping is the way to go. "My whole apartment is furnished with discards," she says. "I find really great stuff all the time. Here in New York, it's kind of obscene how much goes into the trash."

Salvi helped launch FreeMeet, a local recycling event where people share their unwanted items. "Our goal is to have everything find a new home," she says.

Free commerce

Before hitting the mall, find out whether someone in your city is getting rid of the thing you want, says Deron Beal, 40, founder of Freecycle.org, a Web site built on the premise that "one person's trash is another's treasure."

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.

It's an eclectic mix, but that means there's something for everyone, says Beal. He launched the nonprofit group four years ago with 20 or 30 friends. Now it has 4.5 million users, he says, with 70,000 newcomers each week helping to reduce the growth of landfills.

At the heart of Freecycle.org, Beal says, is a spirit of giving, not getting: People in South Dakota collected prom dresses for teenage girls; a 95-year-old Arizona man looks for old bikes he can fix up and give to disadvantaged children; others have joined together to find clothing and supplies for orphans in Haiti.

Beal uses the site, too, but only for giving. "My wife has made it clear that it's good for purging, not collecting," he says. "But I did get a George Foreman grill once." The people giving it away turned out to be neighbors he had never met. "When I picked up the grill, they also gave me a half dozen eggs from their chickens," he says. "It's a beautiful example of community giving."

FreeSwapper.org started last year to provide a similar service, and FreeSharing.org lists hundreds of organizations across the country with the same goals.

Dumpster diving

Curious about Dumpster diving? Freegan.info keeps a city-by-city listing of prime Dumpster locations, from bakeries to bookstores. Large chain stores in wealthy neighborhoods are particularly prone to tossing edible foods, Nelson says.

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.

Nelson says freeganism has nothing to do with income. She says many divers, herself included, have at least moderate incomes: "It's really about boycotting the consumerist system."

But not everything can be found in a Dumpster. Nelson admits that some things must be acquired the old-fashioned way: at the store. Like cooking oil -- "You can never find enough of that."

I don't know where the line is for food being trash is. I know that spoiled food is bad, but I also know that if a big lump of cheese has mold on one side and the other side looks fine, cut off the bad side and toss that portion. But like George Costanza did with the eclair, I'm probably partial to something akin like that. It's above the rim, or it's in a bag.

I've picked up furniture before when I first moved out on my own. We'd walk the streets of Hoboken, NJ looking for new additions the night before trash pickup. My first coffee table was an old snowboard duct taped to a couple of milk crates.

But I've read some of these more extreme freegans, and it's like anything extreme to me, the more extreme the more I don't understand it. I've read about some freegans that have whole refrigerators stocked with items they found tossed into dumpsters.

What about you and food? Could you? Would you?

canuckguy · 03-27-2008, 08:43 AM

I've grabbed furniture from the garbage when i was younger, never food though.

I saw a 60 minutes or dateline piece on this topic and was grossed the hell out by some of the stuff the people ate from the garbage.

I would have no problem say taking a crate of tomatoes from the garbage because you can tell if they're still good. But no way am i taking lunch meat or a half jar of mayo.

of course if it was my only option for a meal i would do so, but just to save a couple of bucks no way. I think what the people are doing is great, but the real effort should be in the recycling process first meaning the people throwing out the good food...etc

jewels · 03-27-2008, 09:36 AM

I would never jump in thedumpster or sift through a trash can, but I have taken furniture items left out for bulk pickup.

Me can't resist "repurposing" furniture!

LoganSnake · 03-27-2008, 10:18 AM

We've gotten a couple of furniture items from the "back alleys" over the years. After a thorough reconditioning, they function very well. Our table is 9 years old now and who knows how old it's been when it was thrown out.

snowy · 03-27-2008, 07:35 PM

I cruise my town after finals week in June to pick up free furniture and other things people have left on the curb. I have a station wagon; this makes it easy. College students frequently swap or pass things on. It's cheaper and you end up with some really cool stuff sometimes.

I wouldn't dumpster dive for food, though. Shopping at Grocery Outlet is sometimes close enough.

Charlatan · 03-27-2008, 07:42 PM

I've taken furniture off the streets in the past and even dumpster dived for some really cool old storm windows and a clawfoot bathtub.

Whenever I was going on a purge in my house, I would leave stuff at the sidewalk. It would usually be gone within an hour or so.

As for food. I don't know that I could dive for it but I really wish more restaurants and institutions would donate their food instead of wasting it. I used to work in a hospital kitchen and there were often times that would see a lot of food go to waste. I am sure it could have found a belly to fill somewhere.

I do know of a farmer north of Toronto that would feed his cows on stale buns from fast food restaurants. I don't think he was paying for them, rather they were happy to let him take them for free.

Fotzlid · 03-27-2008, 10:06 PM

Dumpster dive for food? It would take some extreme circumstances for me to do that.
My favorite way of disposing of good/decent stuff i don't want anymore is to leave it by the curb. Someone always picks it up.

SSJTWIZTA · 03-27-2008, 10:42 PM

I know alot of crust kids. you learn tricks from them.

when i lived in florida we would sit behind the pizza hut or hungry howies until it closed, and instead of throwing away the wrong order/never picked up pizzas they would give them to us.

but yeah, those fuckers had no problem eating out of dumpsters.

Kahn · 03-27-2008, 11:03 PM

dumpster dive for another man's "junk"? .. done it and not opposed to doing it again .... never know what cool stuff you can find by just looking for it, and it's got the best price possible

dumpster dive for another man's thrown out food? .. I agree, it would take some seriously dire and extreme circumstances for me to do that, but if I needed to consider it, I'd look in places that prepare food and throw it away just because it's just now past its prime

I wouldn't eat something that looked / smelled suspicious and again, I'd have to be faced with some pretty dire circumstances

flat5 · 03-28-2008, 03:46 AM

girldetective · 03-28-2008, 07:18 AM

My daughter Mary, a graduate student, has all curb-side furniture in her house in CT with the exception of her $25 piano off Craigslist and her mattress.

I eat out a lot and I take leftovers with me which I often leave in a conspicuous place or hand them to someone who is in need.

03-27-2008, 09:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
jewels Eponymous Location: Central Central Florida	I would never jump in thedumpster or sift through a trash can, but I have taken furniture items left out for bulk pickup. Me can't resist "repurposing" furniture! __________________ We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain

03-27-2008, 10:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	We've gotten a couple of furniture items from the "back alleys" over the years. After a thorough reconditioning, they function very well. Our table is 9 years old now and who knows how old it's been when it was thrown out. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

03-27-2008, 07:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I cruise my town after finals week in June to pick up free furniture and other things people have left on the curb. I have a station wagon; this makes it easy. College students frequently swap or pass things on. It's cheaper and you end up with some really cool stuff sometimes. I wouldn't dumpster dive for food, though. Shopping at Grocery Outlet is sometimes close enough. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

03-27-2008, 07:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I've taken furniture off the streets in the past and even dumpster dived for some really cool old storm windows and a clawfoot bathtub. Whenever I was going on a purge in my house, I would leave stuff at the sidewalk. It would usually be gone within an hour or so. As for food. I don't know that I could dive for it but I really wish more restaurants and institutions would donate their food instead of wasting it. I used to work in a hospital kitchen and there were often times that would see a lot of food go to waste. I am sure it could have found a belly to fill somewhere. I do know of a farmer north of Toronto that would feed his cows on stale buns from fast food restaurants. I don't think he was paying for them, rather they were happy to let him take them for free. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

03-27-2008, 10:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
SSJTWIZTA Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator. Location: Windiwana	I know alot of crust kids. you learn tricks from them. when i lived in florida we would sit behind the pizza hut or hungry howies until it closed, and instead of throwing away the wrong order/never picked up pizzas they would give them to us. but yeah, those fuckers had no problem eating out of dumpsters. __________________ First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller

03-27-2008, 08:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
canuckguy I read your emails. Location: earth	I've grabbed furniture from the garbage when i was younger, never food though. I saw a 60 minutes or dateline piece on this topic and was grossed the hell out by some of the stuff the people ate from the garbage. I would have no problem say taking a crate of tomatoes from the garbage because you can tell if they're still good. But no way am i taking lunch meat or a half jar of mayo. of course if it was my only option for a meal i would do so, but just to save a couple of bucks no way. I think what the people are doing is great, but the real effort should be in the recycling process first meaning the people throwing out the good food...etc

03-27-2008, 10:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fotzlid Junkie Location: Greater Boston area	Dumpster dive for food? It would take some extreme circumstances for me to do that. My favorite way of disposing of good/decent stuff i don't want anymore is to leave it by the curb. Someone always picks it up.

03-27-2008, 11:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kahn Psycho Location: Physically in Houston, TX - Mentally Lost in Time	dumpster dive for another man's "junk"? .. done it and not opposed to doing it again .... never know what cool stuff you can find by just looking for it, and it's got the best price possible dumpster dive for another man's thrown out food? .. I agree, it would take some seriously dire and extreme circumstances for me to do that, but if I needed to consider it, I'd look in places that prepare food and throw it away just because it's just now past its prime I wouldn't eat something that looked / smelled suspicious and again, I'd have to be faced with some pretty dire circumstances __________________ Attention everyone: We have another potential asshole in the area ! You don't have bad luck, the reason bad things happen to you is because you're a dumbass !! Dinner $50 Drinks $30 Motel $40 Finding out she swallows - PRICELESS!!!

03-28-2008, 03:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	.. Last edited by flat5; 05-03-2008 at 12:49 AM..

03-28-2008, 07:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
girldetective sufferable	My daughter Mary, a graduate student, has all curb-side furniture in her house in CT with the exception of her $25 piano off Craigslist and her mattress. I eat out a lot and I take leftovers with me which I often leave in a conspicuous place or hand them to someone who is in need. __________________ As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons...be cheerful; strive for happiness - Desiderata