Going “Freegan?”
By Kiah Vandergrift and Melissa Camp
You drive down the streets of downtown
“Freeganism” came about when groups of environmentally conscious people chose to live an anti-consumerism lifestyle. They “dumpster dive” not because they do not have the financial means to buy products, but because they choose to take advantage of others wasteful ways, as a political statement. Everyday, thousands of perfectly consumable products are thrown away without a second thought; however the “Freegans” have adopted a lifestyle which consists of relying only on others waste. It’s like the old saying, “One mans trash is another mans treasure.” Due to expiration dates on food, grocery stores are legally bound to dispose of products that go past those set dates. This results in perfectly packaged food tossed into dumpsters, and left to rot, but not if the “Freegans” have anything to say about it! They prevent all the wasted food from ending up in landfills and give the gift of food to others who might otherwise die of starvation. The Food Not Bombs group does just that, salvaging food and preparing meals for the needy based solely on the food they find while foraging.
“Freegans” not only gather food from wasteful sources; they also recover various consumer goods. Things such as books, electronics, clothing, appliances, musical equipment, games, toys, and artwork are only a few of the many treasures that can be found in the dumpster treasure chest! In fact, they share their discoveries with each other in events such as “Freemeets”, where “Freegans” gather and exchange products without ever exchanging money.
Some people may think that “Freegans” are living a dirty lifestyle, mooching off what others are finished with; however, we like and approve of the political statement they are making, even though it is a bit extreme for our personal liking. So slap on your moms’ old tye-dye shirt, put that Grateful Dead album, slip on those Birkenstocks, and eat your sisters leftover meatloaf! Peace out, dudes!
