Today we want to tell you the story of a dumpster diver, a person who looks into the trash bins to find thrown away products that are still in good condition and can be used or consumed. In this case, this person went to the trash bins of a Dollar General store and found a very large number of snacks that were still sealed, safe, and edible.
This person took a picture of what she found and posted on the internet. This shocked many people when they found out the amount of products that are thrown away, but can still be consumed. So, let’s find out about this.
Products taken from the trash bins
The dumpster diver shared a picture on the subreddit r/DumpsterDiving on Reddit. In the picture we can see all the products she got:
- Hostess Twinkies
- Hostess Snoballs
- Nutella products
- Nestle chocolate chips
- Nutter Butters
- Nilla wafers
- Graham crackers
- Sweet Tarts
- Other packaged snack foods
All the items were sealed and in good condition. The person also saw 5 large bags of ice cream, but she didn’t take it because it melts and spoils very fast.
When the picture was published many people on Reddit reacted with surprise and even jealousy. Someone commented that her family would be very happy if they found so many snacks, while another person joked about being tired of his family bringing fruit and vegetables and that this finding would be exciting.
Wasting food in the U.S.
Even though these discoveries seem great for dumpster divers, it also shows a huge problem: the U.S. wastes a huge amount of food. The country throws away more food than any other country, about 120 billion pounds every year. And a great part of this comes from supermarkets and stores, which produce about 16 billion pounds of wasted food per year. This means that around 30% of the entire food in stores end up in the trash bins.
What’s more, this also wastes energy and resources that are crucial to produce it because when the food breaks down in landfills, it creates gases that contribute to global warming.
Some stores are trying to reduce this by lowering the prices of products that are about to expire. However, not every store does it because they depend on the store manager’s decision. Regarding Dollar General, it hasn’t made any public statement about its wasting policies and, since it has so many stores, if it doesn’t handle the situation well, the amount of wasted food could be a lot.
Tips for dumpster divers
If you want to try what this dumpster diver did to see if you could be as lucky as her and get so many snacks for free, you should do the following:
- Choose the right dumpster: Avoid compactors and dumpsters that are locked or fenced in. Stores like Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Food Lion, CVS, and Panera Bread are common places divers check.
- Go at a good time: Stores often take out trash right before or after closing. Try different times to learn the schedule. If you want privacy, go at night or during rainy weather.
- Bring proper gear: Gloves, old clothes, flashlights, and boxes or carts make the process easier and safer.
- Know the law: Dumpster diving is legal in the U.S., but you can still be charged with trespassing if the dumpsters are on private property.
- Be careful with food: Wash produce and check food carefully. Some store owners pour bleach on trash to stop divers, so always use caution.
Other items found in trash bins
Apart from food, many dumpster divers find furniture, home appliances, and construction material that are also in good condition. Sometimes these items are worth hundred or even thousands of dollars, but they are thrown away because people think it’s easier than selling or moving them. Have you ever tried what this dumpster diver did and found something in good condition?