Dumpster Diving as a Lifestyle - Freeganism
We are so wasteful as a society that there is a small, but growing movement that lives off the “waste” of the American middle classes - Freegans. Some of the characters are depicted in this NY Times article.
They are able to get descent food and home décor dumpster diving in NYC. The Times reporter meets up with them as they are foraging through the departing NY University students leave for their summer break.
More power to these people. I totally agree that we are too consumerist and through away too much with hardly a thought. It amazes what I see on the curb on garbage pickup day here in affluent Northern Virginia – TVs, cribs, mattresses…
We need sustainable development and recycle what we use, no matter what we do. Cell phone companies are getting with it, PC manufactures are studying it… The furniture industry has a long way to go, but did you know that you can get organic mattresses? As far as food waste is concerned at least its biodegradable, but it’s a shame people go starving in this world.
What I don’t agree with this movement is that they describe themselves as anti-capilast when they are technically living on the excesses of capitalism itself. Like the Chinese who are supposed to be communist when they are really capitalist themselves.
This movement is too extreme for me. I agree that buying a hybrid prius and recycling your coke cans does not really make you green. But it’s a start and its more than a ton of other Americans are doing. At least the green movement is on the radar screen now, compared to just 5 years ago…
Lets start using cloth bags at the grocery store. You can get all these stylish colors and designs now. And no more plastic plates, utensils. No more Styrofoam cups for your coffee. Buy a mug and wash it! Its not hard !! Its that or dumpster diving like a Freegan!!
June 27th, 2007 at 8:39 pm |
20 some odd years ago, when I was much younger and poorer, I used to walk thru the affluent neighborhoods on trash night. Id drag home all sorts of goodies to furnish my apartment with - even some nice antiques, which I enjoyed restoring.
Little did I realize that I was ahead of my time. But then, I think getting into a NYC dumpster is a bit extreme, I dont think I would have gone that far!
Thanks for visiting the birds & the beads
June 28th, 2007 at 6:51 pm |
My mother collects antiques. A few of the items in her oh so perfect home were found and rescued from the trash by me, then refurbished to look like new. While I don’t see myself climbing into any dumpsters, I absolutely agree with this post. We all need to make an extra effort to find new ways of reducing waste.
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 am |
why buy? do or die! the less you consume, the more you are!