Diane, a reader, emailed me over this interesting video. It really made me stop and think. One big word came to mind… Wasteful.
Would you dumpster dive for food? I’m sure at this point your answer is no… BUT you may think a little differently after watching this video. I’m not going to say much more, so go watch the video here and come back and let us know what you think.
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YUCK
It is illegal where I’m at and if there are food kitchens or places like that that would like to take this kind of food off the grocery store hands, maybe they could take the initiative of talking to the grocer. I think I read in another comment, and I agree – that most stores probably have a policy in which they cannot do this due to sue happy people or just the slightest chance that some of the food might get someone sick. Just imagine how bad it would look for Walmart if they donated some food to a homeless shelter and the people all got food poisoning (you know how people love to demonize businesses!!). I wouldn’t get so mad at the businesses – people have died from food poisoning. It wasnt that long ago that a two year old boy died here in Idaho from eating bagged spinach that was contaminated with e. coli. Also – organic does not mean clean, it tends to rot quicker as it does not have preservatives. If you are not homeless and starving, I think its a shame to be digging around in a grocers dumpster for your food. How would you feel if someone was digging around in your garbage at your house?? Kind of creepy. Stores do not want people digging in their garbage either, it looks bad, the person could get hurt, who knows what could be in there.
When my kids were around 10 years old, they found a box of small bags of potatoe chips in a dumpster in back of a store. I inspected the bags. They weren’t open so I decided to let them eat them. I even ate a couple of bags. There really wasn’t anything wrong with them. They had just expired. I would have to be really hard up to feed my family this way tho as a way of life. .
I’ve always felt stores throw away TOO much food that could go to folks who could really use it. I for one, would not go dumpster diving. However, don’t put it past me to pull something cool out of a neighbors garbage! A couple years ago I pulled an artificial christmas tree out of my neighbors trash, gave it to a girl friend and they still use it! It’s in beautiful shape. (OK, it’s a little bent but life isn’t perfect…. just like her tree!)
Kinda gross, but to each their own. I’m willing to dumpster dive in a newspaper recycling bin for coupons… are you?
I’m with you on that one, I like the free stuff I get through coupons much better!
I do this every sunday night 🙂
for coupons that is…
I keep wondering about the coupon recycling “diving” – is this legal? The only recycling centers we have are at the dump and at fire stations. Neither seems like a place I can go rummage around (closed dumpsters except for little slits). Am I missing something? I would go through clean newspapers to get extra coupons.
I coupon dive every Monday morning before the recycle bin is dumped on Tuesday. I don’t have a problem with that. Last summer a newspaper deleiver driver must of been using the same bin because every Monday we (fellow couponers) hit pay dirt. All it took was a little cordination, a little of my time, a step stool and sanitizer wipes. Sure miss that driver, now I really have to work. Ha.
I have seen numerous videos on the art of dumpster diving. I personally would not risk the health of my family or myself. If it came down to my family starving, there are safer options…
Last year when the recall on the cheese or peanut butter crackers went out, a store threw out cases of these, just to be safe on their side, but I’m pretty sure these products weren’t affected by the contamination, although I/or my family did not eat them. I know several people that dig through the trash in a certain town behind a certain store that throws out good completely usuable food/items. From magazines to insect sprays to boxed cinnamon rolls and cookies. I’ve seen them throw out cases of pop as well. These items had just passed their expiration date, but come on, most items can be used within days of the expiration date. I mean if it smells or looks bad then it probably is, but if they look normal without anything growing on/in them then they are probably safe to eat. I wouldn’t go past months of the expiration date, but I think days would be fine.
Not too, too long ago, there was no such thing as expiration dates. Many of us grew up during that time, our Moms didn’t even know to worry about a product expiring. They went by “look and smell”. I get a kick out of how paranoid my daughter is about expiration dates as that is all she has grown up with.
I was so surprised about the dumpster diving!! I work at at major retail store and the food we throw away is incrediable, its smashed in the dumpster, then the store gets credit for it from the companies…it actually makes me sick to see it thrown out..we have to remove the product 1 month before the actual outdate! If it was legal, I would dumpster dive!
I must shop at stores that do not follow this policy as many time items I want to buy are almost at or even past expiration….I always hunt around for those furthest away from expiration (as I’m sure most shoppers do). We even had a store that marked a ton of gallons of milk down to .99 cents or something like that – the expiration date was about 2 days away – I didnt buy any – I’ve gotten milk that is bad before and I can’t get the smell/taste out of my mouth for awhile, makes me sick to think about 🙂
thinking about it…many of the clearance food items at Walgreens are at or past expiration also.
CVS too! I went today in the clearance section and found a Crest tooth whitening kit. Looked great, then found the expiration—in 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i bought a ton of mac n cheese when it was on sale at wags a while back. i checked all the expiration dates but my husband didn’t check the boxes he grabbed. when we got home we noticed about five of them had expired more than a year ago. i took them back to the store and before i even left the cashier was putting the ones i returned back on the shelf.
No thanks…not for me. I’m a germ-a-phobic! As one other reader said…to each their own.
Don’t think for one second that the food she gets is clean, I was looking at her website and she actually cleans all the food (jars, produce, etc) before she puts the pictures up on her site! Yuck I would never do this! Sad that some people have to do this!
I personally would never dumpster dive…but I don’t understand why the stores throw out this much food. Where I live, I know of some stores that only throw out food if it’s obviously bad otherwise they send it to the local foodbank. The foodbank workers expect it and give what is good to people in need and toss what isn’t good. I don’t understand why more stores don’t do this.
Vomit! She apparently hasn’t seen that homeless people will sleep in & do their business in dumpsters. Imagine THAT on your organic tomatoes & bananas! No way, no how. I about vomit when I have to go through my trash b/c a knife (an expensive one that wasn’t going to be tossed) or some other valuables were accidentally thrown out. and I knew what was in my trash. A lot of our grocery stores here has a designated area where they place items that are nearing expiration & they’re drastically reduced for a quick sale. Even if places can’t donate to homeless shelters maybe they should check into hog farmers or turn it into composte.
Not sure about this. I mean the food looked fine and I do think it could be washed. They need to find a food bank close and donate it. I know fresh veggies are hard to come by in those places. Also I have stopped my car for neighbors trash. I got my girls one of those play houses. All piece are there just needed to be hosed off. Great shape and I can likely turn around and pass it on to another family in a couple years. I don’t understand why people are so wasteful.
Considering just how little some of us pay for our groceries and sundries now, I don’t think it’s necessary to dumpster dive. Couponing and judicious shopping habits are keeping us in the black now, so I don’t mind paying for taxes plus maybe 10% of what the original price was… especially when it increases the odds that my family’s food is safe. My husband is a professional chef and he would NEVER take this food and serve it to anyone. Even after you clean it, the only safe food there is probably the canned food… As a new mom, I am definitely a germ-a-phob, so this is NOT how I will be spending my time.
I was just thinking how I’d never eat somewhere that served food they got from dumpsters 😉
I am deeply disturbed that these stores are wasting perfectly good food, and not either donating it to a foodbank or a food kitchen!!!
some of the food that is in there is probably in there for reasons other than experation dates. I agree that food that is good should be donated and not thrown away.
Good food does not belong in the dumpster. BUT, once it hits that dumpster, it’s trash. Have you ever seen the inside of a dumpster? It is disgusting. There is no amount of cleaning that could make me eat that food. I don’t want to eat a pepper that two rats just made love on…but that’s me.
OMG, I have never seen anything like that before. She must just like to do it, by the look of her kitchen I don’t think its that she needs to.
I like the idea of free food, but I don’t think I could get over the fact that the free food could be setting on the same place a dirty diaper was setting. I would need some type of high tech super sanitizing shower before I would reenter my home
I really made me think too last night after watching it. I am naturally curious so would be slightly tempted to see if this is infact true. I do feel sometimes like I am wasteful but I try not to be and but I often times think “oh it is expired, we need to toss it” bad habit I admit but I can’t help it, I don’t trust my nose most of the time.
Could not personally do this unless I was homeless and starving and had no other way to feed myself. In fact, I am sure a lot of homeless people do have to eat this way. But like everyone else has said, there is something very wrong w/this picture. Where is the glitch in our system that we have thousands that are homeless and hungry, yet we throw out TONS of unused food. Shouldn’t all the grocery stores, etc. have the same guidelines, etc. for donating their food to local foodbanks, etc. just as anyone else?? maybe in fact, there just is too much food and it winds up being too much even to donate. Imagine? In our country, we have all the answers and resources but we still can’t figure out how to make the system work harmoniously for everyone? I am speechless. My sister has attested to how much food is thrown out though, b/c she often donates her time and energy to the local foodbank that her church has set up inside itself. She is often the hands and feet of this operation. Just sharing my thoughts. But overall, no, dumpster diving just gives me a sick feeling. I am thankful I don’t want or have to do this. 🙂
Companies dumping useable, brand new items at landfills has been going on for years. Back in the 1970s when I was a little girl, my Dad worked for the local landfill fixing the trucks and bulldozers. He would bring home lots of new in box goodies for us. Usually, they came right off the truck before they even hit the landfill. One year I got a brand new in the box Dancerella doll (a ballerina doll that you pushed her crown and she kicked up her legs or twirled) and one of those slime bug makers. One time he also brought home a giant sealed case of 100 Grand full size candy bars that hadn’t even expired yet. We ate those for weeks. 😉 That said, I would never dumpster dive for food. Maybe moving boxes, but def. not food.
My dh works for a food warehouse and they usually donate leftover food to homeless shelters. Of course, sometimes he brings home lots of sealed goodies for us, too, like huge bags of shredded cheese, buns, giant cans of mushrooms, etc. Stuff they can’t put back into inventory, but has been kept at proper temp. I usually freeze most of what he brings home.
I work part-time for a non-profit and we also donate food after special events to our men’s shelter.
Also, wanted to add that Wegman’s here in NY state donates their soon to expire food to local food banks. Here is link:
https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&partNumber=UNIVERSAL_3209
Dh’s company does this as well.
This is absolutely vial!!! those dumpsters are rampant with microbes that CANNOT BE WASHED by conventional means (unless of course you want to dip your peppers in bleach)!! and this is the same dumpster that they throw away waste from the restrooms in!! The only way I would be doing this is if i was starving to death and even then I would go to a soup kitchen.
I saw this yesterday and was intrigued by the whole idea. On one hand I think it is neat that she is saving a ton of money and reducing waste and reminding us of how wasteful we are. On the other hand it’s a dumpster, for dumping more than good and decent food. I am not willing to do it at this time, but if I had to, I probably would. I think there are some things that if sealed would probably be fine. Not so sure about any produce that could come into contact with “stuff.”
I would be picky about which dumpster I was picking out of though. :0
By coupon shopping and being aware of my spending I feel that I am saving a lot of money and keeping myself and my family happy and healthy. This article got me thinking though about how much I waste and throw out and I realized I need to donate more and plan more. I am also considering planting a garden. I don’t have a green thumb, but I’m sure I can learn. A garden may save me a trip to the dumpster someday. 🙂
Growing up my parents made wine and they would always go “dumpster diving” for fruit at a produce distribution company. It was always super competitive though. People would be waiting everyday for them to put their damaged products out!
Here in Portland dumpster diving is known to be very popular and somewhat territorial. People have their favorites claimed (Trader Joe’s is one of the top ones) and they don’t like to share!
I would rather grow a garden and get my hands dirty for my food that way than to dumpster dive. The time investment is probably about the same if you think about it, and pots or backyard soil are a bit more convenient. Not to mention, I wouldn’t be afraid of weird looks from people with the way I harvest my food from my backyard, but I’d be afraid of cops stopping me in the dumpster. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that we have that much waste in this country.
The best times of my childhood were going to the “dump” with my Daddy and looking for treasures. If we could still do that nowadays I’d be one happy girl, lol.
As for the dumpster diving, sure it’s gross, but I work in a large retail chain. I handle all the grocery claims, it’s all a matter of state laws first, then company policies on what we have to throw away or if we can donate. But, 75% of the food we threw away years ago, now gets donated to the local food bank.
Our dumpsters are locked up so you can’t get in them, but if you promise not to tell anybody….Publix aren’t. : ) Wonder how I know this, lol?
i really find her habits DISGUSTING! she does not seem like she needs to do this, based on her home size and proper clothes.–i think she even mentioned that she doesnt need to do it because of financial reasons–. but what the other readers have said is true…GERMS/ DIRTY BUSINESS/ BUGS/ RATS/ or the fact that its in a dark location after hours, and it just takes one look from a stranger to notice how often you come …that stranger may not want in on your fun and games and can really hurt you…ya know?
I find that the lady needs to follow enough Collin-type websites and blogs and this can save her money and get her a lot of free or nearly free items. i would not eat her food and hope that she doesnt serve this stuff to her guests without their knowledge. germs can get into all that produce and can really get someone sick!
If I were to go by a dumpster and saw someone throwing out pre-packaged items that are in a garbage bag also, i’d probably grab it. Fruit and veggies, not likely.
one time i was at walmart and the deli person told me if their bananas have brown spots even before putting them out the cant the have to throw all of them away.she said they throw away cases and cases and cases i go here in orlando to a food outlet they get things past exp date some times donated by big stores and store that are closing and the other day i got a whole box i think it was 50lbs of bananas for 1.00 wow they were good no spots or anything so there are a looooot of options for lowering your food bill out there and it seems to me that dumpster diving is one of them were is legal.
I have to say, America is wasteful!!! How many people that have lost their jobs, could use this food. I don’t think I would do this, I’d rather use coupons in the store, but if she’s willing to go get it, good for her!
Just GROSS!!! I could not imagine dumpster diving for food. She got all that food out of the dumpster and went home and set it on her counter.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. By the time you disinfect everything your hands and the food touched, then cleaned the food, you’d spend as much in time as those items cost. I don’t think the amount of food was worth the effort and the potential for illness.
It is too bad about stores throwing away food, though. But someone made a good point–you don’t always know why they’re throwing it away.
I donate my time twice a month at a grocery store. I check for expiration dates and pull things that are getting close. For my time they let me have the groceries that I pull that are expiring soon. This has helped my family out greatly and none of it ever hit the dumpster! I also get the produce that the store employees say they can’t sell.
This is BRILLIANT!! Can you tell me what store you do this for? I would love to do this!! DId you just go to customer service and ask them if you could do it? Thanks! couponbarbs@gmail.com
I for one have been dumpster diving a time or two, and i found ALOT of great items… i found STEAKS still almost frozen, i have found perfectly good fruit, NEW household items, makeup, and the list GOES ON!!!!! People just need to get of their high horses..
Okay, so the food might be edible. It may be able to be washed. But…did they think about the fact that those dumpsters are crawling with disease? Hey, you might be able to get clean fruit, but what happens when you slice your hand open, and there just happens to be some foul disgusting germy mess on the part that sliced your hand? Or those germs get on your shoes? Or clothes? Then you take your germy dumpster diving shoes and walk into your house? Or the school you teach at at night? Seems like a really great way to spread disease to me. Or get arrested. Then that goes on your record. Then what do you say? Oh well, I was trying to get out of paying for food? Hmmmm, seems like couponing and buying things on sale would be a less risky way of getting your food.
At least from up here on my high horse I won’t get salmonella, e-coli, staff infection, flu, swine flu, ummm AIDS (because I work with a teacher that throws bloody tissue from students into public trash cans) HIV, Hep C, etc. etc. We don’t need to get off our high horses, we need to think of a viable solution. Like putting the food into a clean storage container next to the garbage and label it “use at your own risk”. Or make the people taking the food from the store sign a waiver…lawsuit prob solved.
can only be transmitted in certain ways and the purpose of this page is to explain how you can and can’t become infected.
HIV is found in blood and other body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. It cannot live for long outside the body, so to be infected with HIV you need to allow some body fluid from an infected person to get inside your body.
HIV cannot be transmitted through spitting, sneezing, sharing glasses, cutlery, or musical instruments. You also can’t be infected in swimming pools, showers or by sharing washing facilities or toilet seats. I think dumpster diving can be included in this list.
But it can be transmitted by a dirty syringe that can easily end up in any dumpster
How do you know that this “frozen” steak wasn’t left out at room temp for 6 hours and then re-frozen? You could get seriously sick from it. If the store threw it out, they threw it out for a reason! Since you don’t know what that reason is, it isn’t safe to eat! You are just asking to get food poisioning, salmonella, E Coli, etc.
You would be better off looking for “Manager Specials” at stores like Kroger or Meijer…
I am aware of the ways it can be transmitted. I don’t need to be informed of that. I was simply sparking the thought of disease, and the idea that no one controls what goes into a dumpster. Who knows, there could be the off chance that someone got their body fluid on that dumpster, and five minutes later you cut your hand on it. A dumpster is an excellent place to catch a disease…any disease not just AIDS, HIV etc. It just so happens that that is what popped into my head at the time. I would much rather be sneezed on than stick my hand (or stand) in a dumpster.
Hey, I have gotton gas cans, canning jars, paint (for my bedroom) coke reward points!
My sister-in-law ask her local grocery store if she could have the produce stuff for her compost pile and he now calls her and tells her when to come pickup. Most things she uses for her family. She makes juice and freezes it or makes banana bread out of the banana. She has made salsa!!!
I agree it is wasteful. I am sure it is illegal here where I live. I agree with u Sara. UGH, that is GROSS and putting it on the counter at home. I am really surprised she has not gotten sick. I like to save $, but this is not something I would resort to.
We are living in a culture that promotes “germ-o-phobia”. Just like the expiration dates we fear, it is entirely unnecessary to fear the majority of germs we are so terribly frightened of. Just wash it. I wouldn’t dumpster dive, but if that chick is happy doing it, more power to her.
I put this above and it fits with your comment too……Not too, too long ago, there was no such thing as expiration dates. Many of us grew up during that time, our Moms didn’t even know to worry about a product expiring. They went by “look and smell”. I get a kick out of how paranoid my daughter is about expiration dates as that is all she has grown up with.
I agree! Don’t ppl know where food comes from? Any animal, bug, creature can touch, do their business or whatever they want on fruits and vegetables grown outside. Dirt is fertalized with cow poop!
I didn’t think it was that gross; the gross part is how much good food is wasted!
and the cockroack feces!
You can tell from many of these comments that most of us have always lived in a house where there was no lack. One cannot imagine what it would be like to be homeless and starving. From articles I have read and TV news, it’s amazing how people change their thoughts when life changes for them. Especially today with the economy, loss of jobs and income. People are having to leave their beautiful homes and nice lifestyles for something much less. Their thoughts change when it comes to “survival”. Very interesting topic and different views from everyone.
I’m glad someone is getting use out of the “throw away” food. I think about all of the food we throw away because it’s went bad or is going bad – how awesome someone could make use of it. It’s not for me (i’m also a germ-a-phob), but everyone does what they need to do to provide for their families.
I am sorry but you can’t wash off certain things that you never will know if it came in contact with, and after seeing how many people used to die from food poisoning back before food safety practices where in place, you would know why people are germ-o-phobic. I work at a major retailer (target) and know that the food and bathroom trash go to the same dumpster. You dont know if all those used pads, tampons, baby wipes, diapers, vomit, ect, have touched that food at some point even if it is in that box and not showing it is touching something bad right then, while being marked down to be thrown out you would be amazed at the hands that have touched it. There are some things (like AIDS) you cant wash off, and who knows if your product has been touched by something like this. It is just not worth saving a few dollars to put yourself and your family at risk. Although I dont agree with how much they throw out now days. Usually if you talk to a store manager or go to a corprate level there are ways to try and change this habit from retailers.
Some people chose to do things that others will not. We live in a democracy, and so we’re free to live our lifestyle as we want. I normally don’t comment on other comments, usually a reply to a question. But this comment gave me pause as it brings up AIDS. Megan thinks that you can contract AIDS from something in a dumpster, and if it were a dumpster filled with used needles or condoms or sanitary items, then I would agree. And to be honest, dunpsters aren’t the cleanest places. But you can’t contract AIDS with out an exchange of body fluids, or using a used needle.
From https://www.avert.org/howcan.htm:
Like all viruses, HIV infects the cells of a living organism in order to make new copies of itself. HIV can only be transmitted in certain ways and the purpose of this page is to explain how you can and can’t become infected.
HIV is found in blood and other body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. It cannot live for long outside the body, so to be infected with HIV you need to allow some body fluid from an infected person to get inside your body.
HIV cannot be transmitted through spitting, sneezing, sharing glasses, cutlery, or musical instruments. You also can’t be infected in swimming pools, showers or by sharing washing facilities or toilet seats. I think dumpster diving can be included in this list.
I just want people to have the facts and not be frightened from dumpter diving. We’re all sitting at our computer in our house. But who’s say to say what we would do if it was a matter of our surviva to procure foodl?
Just to be clear, many drug addicts are riddled with diseases such as aids and hepatitis and don’t usually search for a sharps container to properly dispose of needles. The woman from the dumpster diving video doesn’t get food out of dumpsters because she can’t afford it. She does it because she doesn’t think food should be wasted. She is putting her health in serious jeopardy.
From the video, it doesn’t look as if she’s searching in a dumpster that is filled with dirty junk. It may belong to a produce place that can’t keep items past a certain time. Looks like she knows what’s she doing, so I belive that she would know which dumpsters to scout out, and which ones to avoid. It may not appeal to many, but she certainly does highlight how much Americans can waste.
I absolutely agree with you about the waste of food. The thought of hungry people who go without breaks my heart. 🙁
I don’t like how we are labeling Americans. I am willing to bet that no one here wastes food in their own home. If we had more than we could eat, we’d give it to those who needed it. It is because of the SYSTEM, not the PEOPLE. Americans are for the most part not going to just waste good food on their own. If the Health Department says that a store has to dispose of certain foods before a certain date, the store must or the Health Department can and will shut the store down. It isn’t just lawsuits.
For the record, I MIGHT dumpster dive for food IF I saw something good on top of or just outside the dumpster and I didn’t have to go in the dumpster to get it. I have definitely taken boxes, newspapers, coupons, clothes, and other usable things that weren’t soiled from a dumpster. I have no problem eating expired pasta or juices or not-so-peak produce but isn’t that is why we have liquidation/grocery outlet stores.
I would never get fresh eggs, dairy, meat, etc., out of a dumpster because that stuff goes bad very quickly. Take a plate of hamburger outside for an experiment to see how fast it goes bad. People who say that we are spoiled Americans who should just use their noses have obviously never killed an animal and tried to keep it edible without refrigeration for any length of time.
I agree with her premise; that food is unnecessarily wasted, and perhaps this is the way that this woman will usher in change. But, how about starting a corporate compost program, (we already have a food “recycling” program in our community whereby all biodegradable items are placed in a separate container and hauled to a compost facility….meat included) or place good but expired food in a different spot, (or better yet, have someone come every day at a certain time from a charity to pick up the extras) or have a sale bin at the store where people could buy produce at a deep discount if it was past its peak.
There could be other diseases in those dumpsters. Its not just about AIDS. What I don’t want is for people to watch this video and think “Oh this lady is dressed nicely, she’s a teacher, she lives in a nice place, she’s like me, I should dumpster dive too.” And then a bunch of people needlessly put their health at risk because someone “just like them” does it. This video makes it look like jumping into GARBAGE safe. She clearly states that she “hasn’t gotten sick”. Well, not yet. What happens when 10 years from now she finds out she had some disease this whole time from dumpster diving. Not worth it. I think its promoting it, and it makes it look like something that is just fine for everyone to do. If you are starving and homeless, there are soup kitchens that help. If you don’t have that, there are churches that help. If you don’t have that and you MUST go in the garbage simply for SURVIVAL that’s one thing. But to make it look like its fun, and its the “hip” thing to do simply isn’t safe. I have to admit when I saw it I thought “well that looks like a good idea”. Then I thought of all the stuff we put into the garbage at my work, along with unopened food. Its not about AIDS its not about democracy its about informing people. And informing them that the garbage is a place that’s just peachy to get your food is just not wise. Think of the lawsuits when someone says “hey this lady on the internet video does it and she never gets sick.” Plus its not wise to promote an illegal behavior like TRESPASSING. On most dumpsters there is a sign, “no trespassing” and what’s in the garbage is private property. Sounds silly that garbage is property. But you could get in serious trouble for trespassing and stealing.
I agree– there is no discussion at all in this video about the possible dangers of dumpster diving (isolated, ill-lit conditions, lurking strangers, needles, feces, animals (including feral cats and dogs), insects, glass shards, other sharp items, etc.). In fact, I would call it downright reckless for a woman to dumpster dive ALONE, at night, wearing regular sneakers and no gloves. What if she stepped on a sharp item that pierced her shoe? What if she twisted her ankle? What if a stray animal or criminal attacked her? Who would help her back to her car or call for help?
Moreover, it is irresponsible of the journalist videotaping it for AOL (PopWallet) to present it as a safe practice for which you only need a sense of adventure. Consider the consequences, folks.
Just out of curiosity….
You come to my house for dinner…I serve you a plate of pasta and fresh organic homemade pasta sauce. Then I serve you organic fresh apple pie.
Then I tell you it all came from the dumpster in an alley. Still think its delicious? MMMMM, I hope my piece was next to a used pad topped with a used diaper, topped with a dirty syringe. Yummy.
But I washed it….
My mom used to dumpster dive and she would get things like diapers that someone had opened in the store or poked a hole through. Nobody wants to buy anythings that’s in less than perfect shape so the store throws them out. I’m too much of a scardy cat to try dumpster diving, but I would if it was legal. Not for food though!
Okay Collin……….I have this picture in my mind of you dressed in camo in the dark of night on a Follow Me Dumpster DIving segment…..with your camera man hubby following behind (please take him and not one of your girlfriends) wondering what in the world is next with you.
Laughing right now!
Sunnie
ROTFL!
Thanks for the laugh. Collin~Make sure to find some lemons in the dumpster.
Thanks for the laugh. Collin~Make sure to find some lemons in the dumpster.
The video was very interesting and I can appreciate the desire to save money/reduce waste, but this is not for me. I prefer to use my formidable couponing skills to feed my family for next to nothing! 🙂
Where I’m from it’s illegal for stores to give away “expired” food. Probably to protect them in case anybody gets sick. But I think about all the food that gets thrown away. There’s a new store that opened up in my town Fresh and Easy, and they have a section for “expired” foods on huge discount (ie. Sourdough bread for $0.60, bags of salad mix for <$1, a 2-3 lb. bag of potatoes for $0.50). Food gets put on discount the day it "expires".
Growing up at my house food didn't go bad on the expiration date, in fact the fridge was only cleaned when mom was gone and even then depending on what the food is we would take that into consideration (canned biscuits expired for a month=stay; eggs that are expired for a month=crack one and check; basil that's been in the fridge for over a month and has become a disgusting slime=call haz-mat). My roommate grew up having her mom cook for her (or eating out), so if dried goods (such as pancake mix) is "expired" she thinks she's going to get sick if she eats it.
I’ve seen the hauls that others have made doing this, and it just makes me want to try it out. Coupons for fresh produce aren’t as popular as the processed foods…
I agree with what many people that say our society has gotten us to become a bunch of germaphobes. (Don’t worry that’s not even a real word.) Usually the people that are most stressed about it get sick the most. Way to go helping reduce waste and your personal cost of living! I have gone “dumpster diving” for coupons, in recycle bins, and if the food is good and going to go to waste, why not?
I’ll pay for the food thanks…. unless I am homeless.
I think it’s disgusting. However, I agree that stores and people are very wasteful. Could they not donate it to a local shelter or food pantry? Like the place in the video on Monday where the man said they take expired foods.
Wow. I don’t think I could ever feed my family from a dumpster. In my town, we have a salvage grocery store. They buy colse to out of date products, dented boxes, and overstock from local stores. The big stores don’t get anywhere near retail or even wholesale price, but they get more than they would if they just tossed it. I have gone to the salvage grocery a couple of times to see what kind of deals they might have. Poptarts 12 ct for 1.25 is a pretty good buy, but isn’t that about what we have been paying lately at Target? They do have some good deals though and my grandparents do shop there occaisionally. Of course Papaw loves his ice cream. 🙂 They have Blue Bunny and Breyers for $1 each.
i went dumpster diving at the pottery barn outlet one time. you wouldn’t believe what we found! i find it hard to imagine that they throw some of that perfectly useful and beautiful furniture away. we did this a few times and were “caught” the last time we did it. the outlet mall security asked for our id’s. i was embaressed… i was 25 at the time and was doing this with my mother and sister! the security guard notified us that this was illegal activity and that the dumpster belongs to the property. woopsie, you won’t find me doing that again 🙂
i went dumpster diving at the pottery barn outlet one time. you wouldn’t believe what we found! i find it hard to imagine that they throw some of that perfectly useful and beautiful furniture away. we did this a few times and were “caught” the last time we did it. the outlet mall security asked for our id’s. i was embaressed… i was 25 at the time and was doing this with my mother and sister! the security guard notified us that this was illegal activity and that the dumpster belongs to the property. woopsie, you won’t find me doing that again 🙂