How To Be a Freegan

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So you recycle your newspapers and plastics. Big deal. "Freegans" are trying to save the environment by living exclusively on stuff in your trash. Here's how to join them.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A willingness to get dirty
A tolerance for eating food from the garbage
A commitment never to buy anything new

Step 1: Dumpster dive

Learn to love dumpster diving -- that is, literally climbing into dumpsters to forage for food and other goods. Just be discreet. Dumpster diving is illegal, and can lead to a fine.

Tip: Sometimes it pays to take a direct approach and ask a store or restaurant manager if you can be given the food being thrown out anyway.

Step 2: Learn how to forage

Learn how to forage in your neighborhood for edible plants. Your local horticultural center or library can help you.

Tip: Whenever you have a particularly good food haul, share it with others so nothing goes to waste.

Step 3: Pick up furnishings

Pick up house furnishings by cruising the streets on days that people are allowed to discard large items.

Tip: May is a good time to go through the garbage near universities because students are clearing out their dorms.

Step 4: Get rid of your car

Get rid of your car -- even if it's a hybrid -- and rely on walking, bike riding, skating, and hitchhiking for most of your transportation needs.

Step 5: Frequent thrift shops

Frequent thrift shops for used clothes, appliances, and furniture.

Step 6: Become a squatter

Find an abandoned building you can make your home. That's what serious freegans do, even though squatting is illegal.

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[MayDayWatson5]

I've totally dumpster dived a ton of times at local apartment complexes. If you tell them you're going to do it before you do, they totally don't care. I've found tons of awesome things-once I found a huge tote full of new books. We cleaned them up and gave them to the library.

[Vegluv091]

Yeah this is a little extreme.

But if you think about it, if EVERYONE in the world was like this, being a "freegan" would be perfectly healthy and normal. There would be no garbage lying around or pollution, so it would be pretty easy.

[flang]

dumpster diving is not illegal, hence why police routinely search suspect's garbage out in public view

[yummybluespidermans]

How to be a FREAK-gan

[BamBabyBrenda]

When I was 8 we saw our first dumpster diver i was so interested that i started doing that got a new bed and furniture and money!! :D

[theweirdnerdygirl]

so some people do choose to live that way.........

[Artemis300]

This was...not well researched.

[LolAtUs100]

How to be a hobo

[Redflowers9]

how to be a hobo

[Tigea1]

no bills to pay. im wit it

[Mrbrianjohnson951]

If you think that squatting is illegal, try living in California where they have claimed squatter right in that state.

[Mrbrianjohnson951]

@PaisleyPlum

That is because thief can steal anything out of the dumpster, including your identity.