Comments on: Dumpster Diving: A Travel Strategy for Free Food

By: Abe

Abe — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:42:46 +0000

i just saw a documentary and i tried it. its amazing what you can find

By: frank morrison

frank morrison — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:24:35 +0000

wade your grandpa was a cool dude i remember when i was young and he drove that van by with all the bull horns and the white horses and such..do you remember when we went over there for Easter and your dad would through quarters and we would go find them…good times wade i miss them times. well good luck in life dude happy travels

By: Maria

Maria — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 03:51:39 +0000

Hi Wade – what an entertaining blog! It reminds me of many years ago when I was travelling, as a student, through Europe, with very little cash. We could probably have extended our stay had we thought of dumpster feasting. As it was, we arrived home considerable thinner than when we left.
I did wonder though, if you might have been able to do a good deal with some of the supermarkets who are always out to screw as much money from us as possible.
Also, when you think about the many hungry people in the world is it no criminal to throw so much into landfill? You are doing the world a favour!! Keep it up.

By: keyvah

keyvah — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:32:47 +0000

When traveling in Europe last winter I did tons of dumpster diving after street markets in major cities, especially Amsterdam. The guesthouse I was staying in was pretty radically oriented, and had a strong tradition of dumpster diving. It was a great way to save money, use things which would have gone to waste, and having the local connection of our hosts meant we were could dumpster more safely and respectfully. We often started collecting just as the market was ending, and many vendors handed us items directly that they would have throw away. Of course, a few also looked askance at us. Generally speaking, if I’m dumpstering to save money (and not because I am going to go hungry) I never take more than half of what is in any particular bin/dumpster/pile.

By: ohtallinn

ohtallinn — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:33:33 +0000

I’m so amazed by what i have just read. I have never thought on this subject like this. I think i might actually print it out, translate it and give it to some very people who might need it.

It’s so unfair at the times that grocery stores throw away food what they legally can’t sell cause of the expirey but actually the food is very much the same 3 days after and sometimes even longer.

Thanks for this read !

By: Another Travel Blog

Another Travel Blog — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:22:43 +0000

Try to engage with staff at posh supermarkets – they’ll be best placed to tell you when and where the close to sell by date food goes

By: leslie

leslie — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:39:49 +0000

this is great stuff!

By: joseph

joseph — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:32:29 +0000

oh it is very interesting thank you for shearing this type of experience.i like this this article.you give me a great idea keep it up

By: pam

pam — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:10:05 +0000

I’ve lost it with people over this before, and not because I’m anti-dumpster diving and/or because of the ick factor and/or because I’m insensitive about waste. I think dumpster diving is a bad idea FOR TRAVELERS.

1. Are you depriving some less fortunate person than yourself of a source of food? How can you know this if you’re transitory?
2. Are you putting yourself at risk? I asked my significant other what he thought would happen if you were found dumpster prowling around a local guesthouse, he reckoned you might get shot.
3. Are you putting yourself at a health risk? Again, if you’re transitory, you may not know the right source for “clean” food.

Knock on some kitchen doors and ask to wash dishes for your dinner. Sing for your supper. Maybe you’ll meet some people. Unless you have a local connection who can assure you that you’re not putting yourself at risk or taking food out of needier mouths than yours, this is a terrible strategy. Finally:

4. It might be a crime. Check the local laws. Do you really want to end up in prison because you didn’t plan your travel budget so you could eat? Yeah, that will make a great story. Good luck with that.

By: Radison

Radison — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:30:35 +0000

Really very informative blog and i will surely give a chance to above mentioned tips,