The new economy : You're going to dive.

[Vanje]

Dumpster dive.
I dive.

Sheeptramp's guide to dumpster diving:

The stuff around the edges of your dumpster are likely contaminated by contact with E. coli, and Salmonella. Avoid anything that contacts the edges or the bottom, unless it is in sealed wrapping........(if you DO take this material , clean it CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN it! . Use soap and water.

You're pretty safe taking anything from the center. If it looks fresh , it is fresh.
Bring along some alcohol-gel based hand cleaner.
After touching the doors and edges of your dumpster, you'll want to clean off.

Do'nt leave any sign that you've been there. Leave your dumpster in good order. Shut the lid. Remove any cartons or boxes you used to step on to get better access. Put any rejected items back in the dumpster.

If store personnel should confront you as you work their employer's dumpster, they may be shocked and surprised. Don't run. Don't hide. Be friendly. Smile. Tell them that you are grateful for the opportunity to use their very good quality discards.
Don't be ashamed. There is no shame in using useful produce. There is only shame in wasting. Chances are, store personnel are disturbed at their bosses tossing perfectly useful wholesome, nutritious food.

Most store personnel, when they see that their neighbors are using the excess food , will usually place it near the dumpster, and not in the dumpster, making it more convenient for their neighbors to use this beautiful largess.

Again, do not leave a mess. Be a tidy and gracious diver.

Dont worry. You are not the only one.

People are mostly great. Believe this.

[RKP5637]

1. I've always felt this, "People are mostly great. Believe this." The problem is

governments and institutions get between people.

[Vanje]

4. Not at my dumpster, they dont.

I live in too small a town for "governments and institutions".

[RKP5637]

6. Good, you're lucky!!! n/t

[Vanje]

8. Don't I know it!

At the local Catholic church, at any given time, there are candles burning, lit by thankful poor for their favorite Saints.

I would light a candle to my dumpster. I would.

[CoffeeCat]

2. The produce and meat dept manager at our...

...local Walmart said to me, "You wouldn't believe what we throw away here. It is a crime."

All meats expire on a certain date, and they have to go in the trash at the end of that day.
For legal purposes, they can't donate any of it.

She said so much produce that if perfectly fine, but doesn't look "perfect" is thrown as well.

Walmart guards their dumpsters well though. They have little house-like thingees built around
them so no one can get in.

I'm one step away from dumpster diving--as I'm a very serious couponer. Tonight, I got 8 20 lb
bags of Tidy Cats cat litter for a grand total of $5. Hey, I can't eat it, but the money I save
on the litter is part of the budget and it helps to stretch my grocery budget.

Happy savings and creativity in this "new" economy, everyone!

[Vanje]

3. Retail shelf is expensive real estate

Most dumpster stuff is not past date.
They get fresher meat and/or produce , and the only ever-so-slightly older stuff s gets cleared out to make room.

Canned food , packaged food , and dairy products.....UNEXPIRED.

.Its all there

[RKP5637]

5. Fortunately at our grocery store here all of the meat goes out on sale quite

cheaply before it hits the dumpster. They also have some racks of canned/packaged food deeply discounted. I never see any produce deeply discounted. The main dumpster is locked shut and has an enclosed conveyor belt feed right into the huge dumpster.

There is also a bread plant here where one can get all types of bread really deeply discounted. We're lucky for this.

[Vanje]

7. Bad

Its bad to lock the dumpster.

Bread is tasty,
but produce is what God wants his children to eat.
A lot of people get enough bread, but almost everyone could use more fruits and vegetables.

[RKP5637]

9. The fruits are always really really expensive.I miss them, I was raised on lots

of apples, pears and plums, strawberry and blueberry fields, all kinds of stuff as a kid.