Adventures in Eco-Design: Exploring Dumpster Diving
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.20.06
'Adventures in Eco-Design' is a new blog started by some aspiring ecological designers to explore the cultural and economic ramifications of dumpster diving, and to see what it's like to live on what others toss out. Just under way (the first post is from last weekend), the blog is being used as a forum for discussing their newly-discovered lifestyle; sort of a 'how-to' guide with a little underground edge to it. The first post, something of a manifesto on the topic, runs through a laundry-list of items and foodstuffs to be had just by doing a little alternative grocery shopping at the dumpster, followed by a natural segue into the unfortunate amount waste in society. As of this first post, the author had been doing so for about three weeks, and couldn't be happier with the results. Because of the blog's short life thus far, it's unclear as to whether or not this is a committed lifestyle or just a social experiment, but we'll be keeping an eye on them to see how they do. ::Adventures in Eco-Design via tipster Aaron.
Sounds like the 'Bums life' blog to me.
Me and my father ‘dumpster’ by picking up lawnmowers and other ‘broken’ equipment out at the curve and repair them to sell for a profit. Once we even found a brand new riding lawn mower being thrown away because it had a dead battery. I’ve seen brand new vacuum cleaners, not even taken out of the box, out in the ‘trash’! I also dumpster for food such as bagels and have had an enormous amount of success. You can even work out an agreement, if you’re really charismatic, to have the owners ‘dispose’ of the food in a more convenient fashion for yourself. All they can say is no. If it’s the ‘Bums life’ then I guess they are really the only sane people in this society. Remember REDUCE, REUSE, and then recycle.
RE the "bums life" comment: that's as much of a cliche as the words TREE HUGGER, isn't it?
I've found some great stuff being tossed out too, including perfectly good food and electronics.
Check your local laws to find out whether dumpster diving is legal in your area. In my town, it is illegal. I still do it from time to time, but it is with foreknowlege of the legal risk I'm taking.
In other towns, it might well be legal, so do a little checking before hand, so you know what you're getting into.
Make sure you bring gloves and a stick with a hook on the end - an old broom stick with a nail in the end works fine.
My alley is an endless source
of useful"junk". Added to my list of recent finds a fully functional coffee maker. Last month it was 6 bottles of Two Buck Chuck, a very drinkable red wine sold at Trader Joe's.
I've been dumpster diving since I was a teenager. It's nothing new. Why congratulate yourself on it being the new look? Some of us have never had anything else.
Jim - why knock someone for trying something new? The exposure from the blog may make people try it who otherwise would stick their noses up!
Anon, I merely point out the ass-headedness of calling trashpicking/dumpster diving anything new. I'm wearing a sweater right now picked out of trash where I work. It's a nice one, too. I'd encourage everyone to "me-cycle" trash. But acknowledge the old crawlers like me. I scavenged my school supplies from age twelve, never bought'em. Why bother? Hell, my response to anyone complaining about my clothes is that if frat muffins don't want me wearing this stuff, don't throw it away!!