Trash Tour

Last night, I went on a trash tour and dumpster dive sponsored by the NYC Freegan Meetup.

What an unforgettable experience.

I did it because 1) I’m curious and 2) I think there’s a lot to be learned from people who are taking such a seemingly extreme position and pushing sustainability to new levels.

For those who haven’t been exposed to this term, freegans are people who don’t like waste and are making a conscious attempt to live outside capitalist culture.  Freegans are most often associated with dumpster diving which involves looking through the trash for food and other items. They also are known for building bikes out of used parts and sewing their own clothes.   They are everything the Housewives of NJ are not.

On the cultural change tip, Freegans have been instrumental in raising public awareness about how much food gets thrown out by supermarkets and restaurants each night.   And,  it’s a lot. An enormous amount. Go on a trash tour and see first hand.   But, freegans are quick to point out they aren’t just “about garbage.” Freegans are also big on foraging and gardening. For example, I learned last night that it’s mulberry season in NYC and there are bushes throughout Riverside Park just waiting to be picked. Who knew?

Freegans also become something of a fixture at NYU on “moving out day” when students leave for the summer and leave behind all sorts of valuable and reusable items.

And I want to go on the record : The freegans I met last night were incredibly gracious and eager to share their knowledge/time.

Very refreshing.

I felt like I was with a band of Christians during the Roman Empire or a roving tribe walking through ruins of culture that only their eyes could see.  For someone like myself who spends time shopping and thinking about shopping and thinking about ways brands can help consumers shop better, it was a very jolting experience.

The takeaway:

There’s an opportunity here for consumer brands and others to learn from the Freegans. Freegans are operating, living and agitating for change at an extreme edge. But is what they are advocating so extreme? I don’t think so. In ways ways, they represent common sense.

They are a wake up call.  A shout heard throughout the shopping mall. A kick in the pants to all sanctimonious recyclers (myself included) to take a closer look at how we consume.

Some specific ideas for brands to consider:

On a conceptual level, pay close attention to what the Freegans are doing and saying. It’s no trend-tracking secret that the edge of culture can shed light on where the center is going—or should be going. If you want to be a green leader and innovator, Freegans are worth learning from and incorporating some of their thinking into green policy-making.

Send entire and corporate teams departments on trash tours. It’s so enlightening and inspiring. It will definitely catalyze a lot of discussion.

Invite a freegan into consumer focus groups for another perspective. I doubt they’d be open to participating but it would be useful to understand their POV on capitalism and out of control consumer culture.

Take a freegan to work day. Probably won’t happen, but it should.

Find ways to support freegans and others who might benefit from old or extra supplies.  This applies to anyone from supermarkets to stationary stores. (An old friend from college recently suggested that food stores set up a separate bin or shelving space for goods that were being thrown out, but could be consumed. She also mentioned that a Farmer’s Market in Santa Barbara had a bin set up for slightly bruised fruit and vegetables. She has a rabbit and would pull items from the bin for her rabbit. )

If you run bike brand, sponsor Freegan “build a bike” workshops. They offer these for free and help people build bikes from used parts.

If you run a sewing machine company, give the Freegans unused or old equipment. The same goes for fabric companies.  Freegans are promoting sewing.

Support community swap events. Give away old merchandise.

Plant a garden on your corporate headquarters grounds and encourage gardening.

Just some fast ideas.

More later.