OMG, I witnessed DUMPSTER DIVING!

[Chicagoland Chef du Jour]

I was both shocked & sad. There were two elderly gentlemen "grocery shopping".


The I remember my best friend telling me her parents do it, just for the thrill of the kill. They are not poor.


Anyone else have a story?

[Becky in Wisconsin]

I've never done it for food, nor have I seen anyone diving for food. But I have rummaged through junk on the curb for furniture to re-purpose and use. Have come up with some good things.

[Stella Mae]

I've heard of people dumpster diving for fun, but that kind of entertainment falls flat with me. I've never seen anyone diving for food, but I know it is a very sad and common occurrence in a country that should not have people living on the fringe.

Many years ago I saw a man digging in a garbage heap on a street in New Orleans. He ran his finger around an empty tuna can trying to get a bit to eat. My mother jumped out of the car and gave him some money. I think that was unwise, but we didn't know what to do at the time.

[Kathy228]

I dumpster dived for two-years during the winter months.

I bought two lambs at a garage sale (yes a garage sale). And in the winter there wasn't much for them to forage, so I actually asked the manager of the grocery store if I could look in the dumpsters for greens to feed my lambs. He gave me permission. So I dove in many, many times.

It's sad at what was in those things. Unopened cases of oranges, celery, pepper, and every other veggie and fruit. Grocery stores (at that time) would throw out their old produce to make room in the store for the new stuff that came in daily. I could get enough food for my lambs in 15-minutes. It's not hard to load your trunk with wooden crates of greens.

I only had one incident of people stopping their car to watch me. They were so bold and rude. So I poked my head up and said, "I'm having company for dinner tonight." They just took off.
k

[K9 Owned]

Kathy228 wrote:

I only had one incident of people stopping their car to watch me. They were so bold and rude. So I poked my head up and said, "I'm having company for dinner tonight." They just took off.
k

That is just priceless!!!

[Alisa Lea]

K9 Owned wrote:

Kathy228 wrote:

I only had one incident of people stopping their car to watch me. They were so bold and rude. So I poked my head up and said, "I'm having company for dinner tonight." They just took off.
k

That is just priceless!!!

Great reaction!

[Chipfo]

Dumpster diving is not politically correct, it's called "receptacle recycling"

My brother used to do it, but he did it behind department stores for slightly damaged but otherwise working merchandice, not food. He found a lot of good stuff that way. They aren't poor or needy, he just did it for fun and to see what he could find.

[Deely]

We have about 4 or 5 dumpster divers in our community...they dive for recyclables and actually do it for a living. Unfortunately the one that lives in our neighborhood (he's 1/2 mile away, but we have to drive by his house to get to ours) is also a hoarder. His 4 or 5 acres is filled with old washers, boats, broken windows and on and on. The stuff spills out of his 3 driveways and up along the road. Calling the police jury doesn't help. I'll take pictures tomorrow...You will not believe it!

[sandrasothere]

Kathy228 wrote:
I dumpster dived for two-years during the winter months.

I bought two lambs at a garage sale (yes a garage sale). And in the winter there wasn't much for them to forage, so I actually asked the manager of the grocery store if I could look in the dumpsters for greens to feed my lambs. He gave me permission. So I dove in many, many times.

It's sad at what was in those things. Unopened cases of oranges, celery, pepper, and every other veggie and fruit. Grocery stores (at that time) would throw out their old produce to make room in the store for the new stuff that came in daily. I could get enough food for my lambs in 15-minutes. It's not hard to load your trunk with wooden crates of greens.

I only had one incident of people stopping their car to watch me. They were so bold and rude. So I poked my head up and said, "I'm having company for dinner tonight." They just took off.
k

Years ago I raised a couple of pigs, and my then husband was the manager of a grocery store, so the produce department saved the throw-aways for me. The stuff they threw away! It seemed like such a waste, but the pigs loved it although now they are just a bacony memory.

[Okra]

This reminds me of a few years ago when the manager of one of our local dollar stores told me that they were required to pour toilet bowl cleaner or a similar acid over unused merchandise, such as outdated otc meds, when they put it in the dumpster. That about blew my mind.

[Chicagoland Chef du Jour]

Grocery goods ought to be made available to food kitchens & food pantries.

[Kathy228]

Okra wrote:
This reminds me of a few years ago when the manager of one of our local dollar stores told me that they were required to pour toilet bowl cleaner or a similar acid over unused merchandise, such as outdated otc meds, when they put it in the dumpster.

I knew someone who, before putting anything on the curb for trash collection, would break/destroy it first. He said he does that so nobody else can have it. How selfish can ya get?
k

[Okra]

Chicagoland Chef du Jour wrote:
Grocery goods ought to be made available to food kitchens & food pantries.

I agree with that, although our local food pantry won't take outdated stuff. I do applaud our local pawn shop, however, in that they put outdated canned goods out on display with a free sign.

[Connie Lea]

K9 Owned wrote:

Kathy228 wrote:

I only had one incident of people stopping their car to watch me. They were so bold and rude. So I poked my head up and said, "I'm having company for dinner tonight." They just took off.
k

That is just priceless!!!

Loved it.

[Connie Lea]

Okra wrote:
This reminds me of a few years ago when the manager of one of our local dollar stores told me that they were required to pour toilet bowl cleaner or a similar acid over unused merchandise, such as outdated otc meds, when they put it in the dumpster. That about blew my mind.

Years and years ago my DD's boyfriend worked at a dump. High end stores would dump perfectly good clothes, shoes, etc. He wasn't suppose to but would sometimes bring stuff home for her. Soon after they started cutting up clothes, etc. Seems such a shame when they could send the stuff to shelters. My DD is general manager at a restaurant and she sends food that is nearing the end date to food banks or shelters.