Dumpster Diving for your needs and wants

By Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The new film 'I Love Trash' is a documentary that follows two friends as they live for three months by getting everything they need out of the trash. They arrive at an unfurnished apartment with the clothes on their back and a flashlight, and we slowly see them decorate their apartment and make clothes from things they've found in dumpsters. The film is a compelling journey of two friends as they make a life out of what others throw away, calling into question our society of consumption. You can watch watch the whole documentary for free here.

Dumpster Diving is a real means to an end and is becoming a little bit of a religion to some people. In Britain it is also being done but, it would appear there are a little more of perils attached than there seem to be in the USA and some other countries. This is especially so if it is a case of taking from dumpsters and bins at the back of stores, whether locked, or not, and whether in a “secure” are or not, as it is considered, under UK laws, theft, and that regardless of the fact that the stuff has been tossed out.

Even taking stuff put out for the dustmen, the waste collection service, municipal or otherwise, is, under the criminal law of Britain theft. While this does not make sense, to me or anyone, I am sure, this is the way things are legally in the UK. Thus, beware.

The book “FREE, Adventures on the margins of a wasteful society” by Katherine Hibbert, is a great guide here as to how things work in Britain. It is also worth the buy and the read simply because it is a great book and tremendously well written.

© 2011