What is a Freegan and what is Freeganism?
According to Wikipedia:
“Freeganism is an anti-consumerist lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources.
Freegans “embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.”[1] The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters, known as ‘dumpster diving’. Freegans salvage the food for political reasons, rather than out of need.[2][3]
The word “freegan” is a portmanteau of “free” and “vegan”.[4] Freeganism started in the mid 1960s, out of the antiglobalization and environmentalist movements. The movement also has elements of Diggers, an anarchist street theater group based in Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco in the 1960s, that gave away rescued food.[4]“
As someone who works in the food packaging industry, I can attest to some of the waste and I am disgusted sometimes with what my company will throw out. Mainly, it’s a jar of perfectly good product that we’ve just opened for a taste test and then have no use for. I usually ask around if anyone wants it before throwing it out. Usually, people do take it, why not – it’s perfectly good.
Freeganism brings this to a whole new level and I can’t say I’m personally comfortable with doing this, but I applaud those who do.
Would you do it? Comment!
I knew some people back in the 90s who were very into squatting and traveling. They’d travel across the country, walking, bussing or hitchhiking. When chow time came, they’d hit up the local stores and ask if there was any food that was going to be thrown out. It works if you’re not allergic to certain foods. It also works if you’re homeless! Anyone looking to pinch pennies should try it, I think.