Dumpster Diving for Food While Biking Across the USA

Dumpster Diving Across the USA! While cycling across the United States I dove into 100's of grocery store dumpsters. In one summer I ate nearly 300 pounds of dumpster food and learned that we throw away $165 billion worth of food each year in the United States or about half of all the food we produce. All while 1 in 7 Americans are food insecure. Since this adventure, I've learned that it doesn't have to be this way though and that the solutions are already there. For a deeper look into how to end food waste and hunger watch my TEDx Talk, How to End the Food Waste Fiasco at: robingreenfield.org/foodwastes....
Tell your grocery store to #DonateNotDump
Robin Greenfield is a truth-seeker, activist, social reformer and servant to Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives. He lives simply and sustainably to be the change he wishes to see in the world. Through living closely connected to Earth, he rejects the status quo of consumerism and demonstrates a way of being in gratitude, mindfulness and presence. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity.
Robin’s public activism involves dramatic actions designed to provoke critical thought, self-reflection and positive change. His activism creates nuanced conversations on the critical issues of our time, with a focus on solutions for living in harmony.
His life’s work has been covered by media worldwide and he has been named “The Robin Hood of Modern Times” by France 2 TV and “The Forrest Gump of Ecology”.
Robin has committed to earning below the federal poverty threshold for life and donates 100% of his media earnings to grassroots nonprofits, with a focus on supporting Black and Indigenous women-led organizations.
This channel is a resource for all who seek to liberate themselves, to live in truth and integrity, and to live in harmony with Earth, humanity and the plants and animals we share this home with.
Robin Greenfield and Dear Friends share means of achieving liberation and harmony through sustainable living, simple living, tiny house living, foraging, growing food and medicine, minimalism, zero waste, earth-skills, food sovereignty, community resilience, compassionate communication, activism, Black Liberation, Indigenous Sovereignty and living in service.
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[@Robin.Greenfield]

Since this adventure I've spent 1000's of hours working to solve this issue. I've learned that the solutions are already out there and that we CAN end food waste and hunger in the USA. For a deeper look into how to end food waste and hunger watch my TEDx Talk, How to End the Food Waste Fiasco at: robgreenfield.org/foodwastesolutions/

[@Earthrush]

try look to denmark

[@dockilat5576]

Yes sir Americans waste so much food. They should ship the excess food to poor countries rather than the trash. Also it has been a common theme of some KZbin channels of making"funny" videos on food wasting.

[@equalheatiscool9267]

Eating food from dumpsters does not seem healthy or sanitary. You do it like it is, so you probably know something I don’t. Would you mind explaining?

[@BH-nu6nd]

When I was a janitor, I found lots of great food in the trash, including a bag of like 30 delicious bagels. Greatest perk of the job!

[@chrisczy8110]

Perhaps solutions will exist when compassion becomes our main focus and not money

[@milk2percent416]

Yes

[@texgrouper7825]

Fabulous point.

[@sortathesame8701]

A lot of it, particularly food waste, is created by our law makers, not a love of money by companies. Many expiration dates are just pulled out of thin air by lawmakers and mandated to those making products. Medications in particular lasts FAR past it's expiration date and could at least be donated to Doctors Without Borders to use on their trips.

[@nickchandler3622]

Please stop. You're making too much sense it's making my head hurt. Let me go back to being blind

[@Ugly1hornedmule]

My family has been eating very well from one particular dumpster for the past 2 years. My deep freeze if full of meat & we get produce & other staples weekly. Recently they threw away about $300 worth of lunch meats. None of it was expired. The stores have to give the consumers time to use the product before it expires so most times things are tossed before the expiration date. I agree that we could solve the hunger problem if they would donate.

[@Robin.Greenfield]

Lori Stuefen Keep diving!

[@atatarget]

Our fav store throws away so much good cheeses, lunch meat, juices, fish, meat.... that we're currently unable to catch up with supply. I'd say my family is using 3% or less of what they throw away. One time dickhead mgr "called cops on me", as he promised several times before. I waited until offices came and they told me I could go ahead and dumpster dive because I did not break any laws ( just make sure you don't leave a mess...). Mr. dickhead didn't look happy.

[@tinytina8512]

@@atatarget i have a store that throws out good food but pours bleach on it makes me mad

[@marcusgonzalez3889]

ahhhhhh I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I work part time for Kroger... They waste GOOD FOOD!!!!!!!!!! I cringe everytime I have to throw food away. I have asked management if it can be donated to the local food bank and they said NO!!!!!! This is not right when families are struggling to feed their kids :( Tiffany

[@yoli1342]

I sympathize with what you're saying I also buy Kroger items and I'm also a person who has been in need married 23years when my husband left us in 2016 I had to play for government assistance because I was having you for the disability and I can work he left her home and I find myself going to churches to get food if I had an opportunity to be able to dumpster dive I want to see what I can get it's a shame how they waste so much food when there's so much people in need

[@monaali1898]

Cant they just throw food out in a nice cleaner trash can so ppl can just take that food instead of going dumpster diving catching some disease. Technically supermarkets are throwing it away but it will just be in a nicer reachable trash can/bin so old ppl can eat too 🙁

[@MegaHotdiggity]

I worked at a stop & shop and my understanding was that the items were thrown out because of the risk of disease/spoiling and expired food. But I don’t believe it. First off, the things we had to thrown out were “expired” bottles of water. Second, expirations are often artificially short so that there CAN be such turnaround and the food industrial complex keeps on. I personally think if it IS an issue of health, then stores should donate to places that have those who need the food and CANNOT BE CHOOSY about expirations just sign a waiver where they agree that they are assuming the risk of the food being old enough that it’s not healthy for them. But why don’t they do this? Profit and bottom line as far as I can tell. It really stresses me out

[@easterdm]

Nope. It's a liability for them and they're afraid of getting sued if someone gets sick or hurt.

[@amazing_custo]

This one time, me and a couple of friends, (With parental supervision XD) went dumpster diving at a dollar store. We didn't find any food, but we did find almost a MONTHS supply of shampoo and conditioner!

[@grujose551]

A month supply? So 1 bottle of each?

[@sandraisaksson7853]

I've always find dumpster diving interesting. But in Sweden it's a little more difficult. Most of our dumpsters from stores and such are either under ground, in their basement, behind a high fence or impossible to get into without a key. I think it's because some years ago some guy accidentally got killed when the dumpster truck came and took the trash. Or it can be just because they don't want people go get their stuff for free. Such a waste :( Wish more people cared about this problem.

[@brookekay9824]

Same thing in Canada...alot of the dumpsters are inside, or put in the crushers/incinerators or else the dumpsters are behind really high fences with barbed wire and security. My cousin worked at Walmart and he said he had to go throwaway 5 brand new PS4 justtty because someone had opened the boxes to take a peek..

[@cindygiesbrecht3146]

@@brookekay9824 I agree, they are also under video surveillance and signs say that trespassers to private property will be prosecuted. Also I find that many places that would have stuff in their dumpsters get them emptied almost everyday.

[@yruhere7457]

As somebody seriously considering traveliving USA by hitchhike and biking, I believe I just found the solution to the issue of food... Would you guys agree?

[@Robin.Greenfield]

como estas bitchez Yes man! Check out robgreenfield.tv/travel-america-for-free/ for how I travel America for free!

[@donjuandemarco2995]

It's horrible how supermarkets throw away food. I used to work for the food emporium and they threw everything out that would expire that same day, they wouldn't even allow the employees to take the expired food home

[@rinpuiitlau2414]

Don Juan the Hustler that so cruel, if anybody wants they’d should allow to let them take it, I feel sad after seeing this vedeo, thingking about many people don’t have enough food to eat but America have had enough to throw food 😱 this is not fair in someways 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@donjuandemarco2995]

@@rinpuiitlau2414 they had a policy about the employees getting sick from the expired food. They didn't want to get sued or deal with hospital bills that was the reason they didn't want us to take the food home

[@rinpuiitlau2414]

Don Juan the Hustler oh I see😗 but....🧐😁

[@doulatish]

good job, Rob, keep up the diving. I'm doing my part to help rescue good food from the dumpster. Feed people, not landfills.

[@ChristopherSchiffermiller]

"Feed people, not landfills." Thats is awesome motto or tag line.

[@mag4guit399]

I can't believe all the food is so well preserved and in their packages. In my country, dumpsters issue really bad liquids and all the food is very descomposed

[@AKalfawolf95]

Dude you're absolutely amazing and a real inspiration. I hope you keep doing what you're doing it's great.

[@julianmaycare6017]

I work for a school in the kitchen, and I'll tell you that so much food gets thrown away, it breaks my heart. We're required to throw so much away. If anyone is hurting for food, go to the dumpsters behind a school, (public school's almost never lock their dumpsters,) around 1pm. Especially high schools because they have so many students and have to make so much. Because of Covid we're required to wrap everything, so you'll probably find perfectly good wrapped, even still warm food in there. Also you won't have to worry about anything too gross getting thrown in there, mostly just the food, lunch trash from the kids, lots of papers and boxes. But you didn't hear that from me.

[@heavenly_girl]

Then why would you prepare so much food if it gets wasted anyway? 🤔

[@julianmaycare6017]

We're required to prepare enough so that every child has the same options. We do try to cut waste, but a good day at a high school is trashing 30-50 servings of food. A bad day would be a hundred or more.

[@heavenly_girl]

@@julianmaycare6017 From now on, you guys should discuss this topic and prepare moderate amount of food for the students. Or donate the extra foods to hungry homeless people in your area. So waste will be decreased! 🙃👎🏻

[@julianmaycare6017]

@@heavenly_girl First of all we do discuss how much to make, but it's up to the manager to decide on how much of whatever it is we're making. Again with the high school as an example they have 1000+ students, and usually 6-8 different options. We generally know from experience how much to make. At the elementary I'm not the manager at, I've cut waste a lot, but there will always be days were kids change their minds or get picky. On the note of Donating the food, we legally can't for two reasons. One our company actually has us sign a contract saying none of the food can be taken out of the kitchen, donated, or otherwise. And two by the time the food is 'wasted' it's been 4 hours since it was cooked, ie old food, and by safety standards we legally can't serve it to anyone anymore. (Reason I suggested it, was if you're desperate you can decide for yourself whether you'll risk a tummy ache, or starve.) Our company is always discussing how to lower waste, we even tried asking all the students in my elementary school 550 kids, what they wanted for lunch every day, but as I said kids change their minds so easily. We'd have numbers like 300 pizza and 250 hot dogs, but before we reach the last grade we're already out of pizza and have only hot dogs that now half the kids didn't want. It's a lot more complicated than just making less food.

[@heavenly_girl]

@@julianmaycare6017 Change terms of contract then! As long as both parties in agreement, it's possible to decrease waste and donate edible foods to those in need! 🙃👎🏻

[@princess7strawberry]

Rob sets a great example to us. Dumpster diving is a great temporary solution to a broken system of government and companies wasting food. Keep diving, but also advocate for higher ups to be held accountable and create better practices (donating, composting, etc).

[@amethystkyss3694]

Here in the UK the supermarkets lock dumpsters behind big walls and locked gates, or pour bleach over food so people can't do this...absolutely absurd and goes to show a complete disregard of the waste they produce & the greed of big businesses! Great video, keep up the good work!

[@quarteracreadventures855]

Wow, so they would rather pour bleach (which they have to pay for) than see the food feed the hungry? I was at a gas station once, and a well dressed man with an expensive car pumped his gas, and when he went to the window he realized he forgot his wallet. Another person in line chipped in and bought his gas, which I thought was real nice, and I said so. He answered, "I don't mind helping HIM... you can tell he doesn't need the money." That statement stayed with me. He was only willing to give money to someone who he was sure already HAD money- he would not have helped someone if he felt they were truly needy or homeless. Isn't that kinda sad?

[@kiayaminnick1523]

That start if the video made me laugh so hard.

[@at_jsmt_]

This is awesome & I think it is important to look into if these things are thrown out because of RECALLS but I don’t know if that has to do with if the things were thrown away. I’ll get back !

[@schmi3gal]

Thank you so much for you effort, dedication, and inspiration! :)

[@fabiencomtomymountain4410]

You rock mate! Continue to spread the real message to the world!

[@Flavy_world]

I have seen another video from Discovery about poverty in the US and people living in a parking lot. They struggled to get food. This is the solution.

[@wavesubz]

wow thats awful that they don't give away all that food but what great finds! my sis and i have recently dumpster dived in SD and found a ton of potatatos and veggies we've been baking all kinds of foraged creations all week :)

[@amagdala]

Wow this broadens my perspective. Thank you!

[@BlueHeron654]

In Toronto Canada, we have a store called feed it forward, a charity called second harvest, and a grocery store called the grocery outlet. All deal with left over food.

[@user-bq3pj8bs9q]

Thank you for your videos. I use it when teaching my esl students.

[@ruthieworld]

Has anybody here seen "Super Size Me''' by Morgan Spurlock and saw what happened to him from eating at McDonalds for 30 days? Anybody? This dumpster diving food is way healthier than anything from any McDonalds, and because a food item has reached it's expiry date does not render that food inedible, but McD, Burger King, Wendy's, Popeyes Chicken, etc will kill you or at least be the cause of your health declining if that was all you ate. Rob is getting organic food out of dumpster and he doesn't look nearly as bad as Morgan Spurlock did after after eating at McD for 30 days. So, you all may want to rethink the notion that dumpster food is bad, which it would be if it was doused bleach. But lots of people give their children McD's for dinner, now that makes me want to puke...go figure.

[@atatarget]

Heavily expired yogurts are the BEST ! More probiotics....

[@ruthevilsizer6406]

I have so much respect for this man

[@dogfight156]

love your site. keep up the great work.

[@myrasolsalandanan9175]

Hello Rob i just found your youtube channel now. I love your advocacy. Keep it up. I love your videos. Love from 🇵🇭😍😍😍

[@saversmom4134]

Thank you for bringing awareness how much they waste food is expensive

[@gustavoanmosura]

you are the great inspiration for many people ...i hope!........

[@glendathomas6437]

Bless you keep up what you are doing. To help stop food waste. Thumbs up

[@brandong6425]

AMAZING video! You're astonishing!

[@Ducky_logan]

Love this so much!!!

[@user-james224]

It’s surprising how it’s thrown out just how they bought it. It wouldn’t be possible in Japan, where I live because you would have to sort out all the trash before

[@SpiritOrb-tm8gf]

SPREAD THE WORD!! Awareness is a key step

[@josephineapid1227]

Hi Rob good day from Philippines and i love watching your video funny sometimes and its cool ,hope you can also give some homeless to share what you've got on the dumpster.God bless.

[@pedallinraw]

All that food waste! I'm surprised it was so easy to haul all that food! You'd think they'd have the dumpster locked up or behind an enclosure? Mostly they are in the uk,I know folk near cities have more opportunities to dumpster dive,such a waste of food it's disgusting.

[@Robin.Greenfield]

Some dumpsters are locked or in locked enclosures. Some places have trash compactors as well that you can't get into. But there is absolutely no shortage of dumpsters that are open in America. Right now I am cycling 1,300 miles eating only food from grocery store dumpsters and I have been well fed every day. The waste is disgusting and that's why I'm bringing attention to it.

[@brendancole1566]

Only thing I would avoid would be the dairy products. Yogurt getting warm could cause food poisoning... I’ve had it lol

[@virginiaATX]

"If we work on this we can figure this out" YES!

[@GonZoArt9]

Rob making this look fun.

[@jessicamcwilliams4933]

Wow awesome wish I could find a dumpster around where I live like that but they have started locking all the dumpsters in Melbourne florida

[@tomcatt1824]

Because bum's screw it up 4 everyone by making a mess outside of dumpsters

[@TheSatinschild]

you are an inspiration and a very practical guy, love from India :D

[@jessicamcwilliams4933]

Great video!Keep on!

[@californiadreamlocks7441]

We new a person who would go every wknd and collect food from stores like trader Joe's and distribute the goods to neighborhood, friends and family. I had so many frozen german bread in the freezer that would last for weeks. And the rest was enough for the whole week. It was a blessing as a single mom and I was able to save a lot at that time. Unfortunately, he died few years later and no one else was interested of doing it.

[@veronicabarton5408]

come to Woodbridge VA!!! I would love to know where to look here, places Ive been all have compactors. I think what you are doing is awesome! Keep up the good work!

[@Robin.Greenfield]

Here's my guide Veronica! robgreenfield.tv/dumpsterdiving It's a numbers game. Go to as many places as you can to find the good ones!

[@atatarget]

Yep, that's a sad side effect of technology

[@CanningWithCathy]

You are my new hero.... i don't dive for food but we collect so many awesome things.. we made a 12 minute video of all the stuff we found in our first year called Canniversary on our youtube channel Canning with Cathy

[@mindfullminds38]

In Holland it is the same... so much food got wasted. A lot of shops have their dumpsters behind closed doors, or behind a fence. I don't understand why they don't just give it away

[@χαρηςχουλιαρας]

Thanks for the great video. Well, thats another example of the thousands, if not millions, that underline that, the Issues concerning of feeding the world is the Distribution and not the need for increasing the production. As humanity, we have reached already the levels of production that we can feed All people on Earth right here, right now. The problematic and anethical denial of a new "political establishment" that does not hesitate to take decisions of flourishing numbers and not local communities, is the fact. We do not need to increase the food production, we need to distribute it. My deepest of Respect to Rob G.

[@lyfestyleX]

Well done buddy...

[@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131]

I can't for the dear life of me understand WHY food stores don't just hand out surplus food !!! To food banks or local people who just collect from the dumpsters anyway. Reduced prices are well and good, but if you're flat broke, they're no help ! 💖

[@bigfoothunter9968]

The Naked drinks are soooo expensive!! Geez what a waste, I dumpster dive but most of my friends are too good to do it or embarrassed.

[@soundoftoday10]

Great hair, Rob! 💪😎

[@chongseitmooi2593]

Possible to get the local governor's helps for incorporating F&B retailers to contribute or channel all the nearly or newly expired food to the community or association to avoid unnecessary waste become a drastic trash..and wondering what is the wastage ratio from F&B retail(s) aside from household waste

[@nikolai6860]

Looks like the dumpsters over there are as fresh as someone else's fridge and the food could be even better)))

[@mysticgeneie4668]

He'd like Liverpool 🤣

[@scothamstorm4482]

hey rob... I love your channel and I've subscribed your channel please make more one of your amazing videos that inspires me.. you encourage me to eat trash.. but hey im not gonna tho eats actually delicious

[@kylieianreyes8601]

U are Awesome❤💕

[@kamalahammad3870]

Great man

[@PedroPetracco]

For each one of Rob's beautiful videos, HowToBasic makes a video wasting a month's worth of food :(

[@hArtyTruffle]

I’m in the UK. We lived like kings and queens in the woods raiding such bins. They lock them now… 🙄

[@lisalin7878]

so cool

[@rachelfresh5901]

I think this idea is actually really good. For people who live on a tight budget or someone like him above, it's really helpful. Plus, it's like -5 pounds to the 3 billion pounds right?

[@albertng9850]

this is awesome! how do you ensure you don't end up with parasites or viruses?

[@Ifonlyyouknew1976]

I found you..keep up the good work

[@noahjacobsen2253]

Ha I live a bout 45 mins away from Lincoln .

[@MegaHotdiggity]

I would do this but I’m mostly stressed about getting arrested/hurt/sick from going in trash. Commenting mid-video so I might have more to say later lol

[@leelastname7628]

what a fooking legend

[@IoneEvans]

now stores have sealed dumpsters pr compactors...smh

[@logancraig4234]

if i could ever meet you, id wanna talk about living for the better of you and the earth...im building a tiny house and i would love to learn more!

[@johnnylakes3135]

I used to do this when I was 8 years old, memorable finds were an old soviet navy uniform, blow up doll and treasure troves of pornography which at the time was used as a form of currency with other kids in my apartment complex, wasn't looking for food at that age lol

[@yanjijay6752]

This is great sadly people's toss out foods with discoloration & so on

[@terrysierra1851]

Good job

[@andrew5718]

At least, those shops could compost all the food !!! :-(

[@evangelinenery7039]

I like the way u live..amazing u....😊

[@michg8969]

That's hilarious! But also sad that we are so wastefull.

[@bigma8568]

Totally insane!

[@tammyhoward2811]

Makes me hungry 😄

[@latteboyssmile]

Wow~so no will buy after all!!

[@GatorLife57]

Thumbs up !.>>>>>>>>>>>>ENJOY....THE SIMPLE LIFE

[@monnysilva3102]

👍👍

[@shftew4210]

with luxuries of all kind ,people are getting sick and socially isolated and rude and shitty ... seriously... its like the food have no value to them..

[@samella35]

If ever in Detroit, I'll dumpster dive wit' cha'.

[@mrwingman6201]

good idea... 🤧 ... maybe a dmbdtz will help me with earl...

[@alejandroperdomo9642]

Your awesome dude! Still can not understand how many people don't understand your message. Keep on spreading the love! ;)

[@JoseSilva-qo5un]

This is the first time I saw someone dumster dive in a food dumpster I go to store dumsters

[@rapidgoodkillgamingandmore878]

I love This Guy, Subscribe

[@loopwater5366]

Does bicycle can run on highway?

[@gustavomolinafernandez4366]

love thi guy

[@protectbodythetans]

True, there is not a lack of food OR housing in the US. And still people go hungry and homeless. What there is, is a lack of empathy.

[@1SuperBadChic]

Rock on dude, some places aren't allowed to donate. While others, I believe just don't want give (crazy as that may seem). We really should figure it out.

[@miriamgomez7880]

It is incredible what you find dumpster diving! We fed at least 3 cities of house less populations with the food we found dumpster diving during our travels. Yup, there are many solutions out there.

[@MrKhanh-ek3zq]

2019 and sill

[@Be_Kind7683]

I don't know if I would actually go dumpster diving for food. I am fine with humbling myself before a church congregation to ask for help. There's an official USA website too that will list the areas giving food based on. Your zip code

[@DrChadMcKinney]

At the end of 2015 Rob Greenfield was gracious enough to grant me some time after a long day of signing books to answer some questions about his Life, his adventures, and what he wants to see in this world. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2ibdHWGa9mfndE

[@edwinreffell6201]

In Sweden most shops etc lock these containers so you cannot get anything from them. Even if they are not locked it is a criminal offence in Sweden to take anything from a container. So far I have read of 5 people in various parts of Sweden who were arrested by the police for dumpster-diving. You are allowed to take things from a public trash bin or from your recycling room but not from a private one or from any private property. For example the local misfits set fire to an empty daycare centre. The police cordoned the area off. There was a perfectly good hot-compost there. If anyone took it then it would have been theft. The cordon was not lifted till the whole area was empty. Nevertheless young people are dumpster diving more and more. I find it very bad that food which could be used to feed the poor is thrown away. People here throw away their unopened food about 3 days before expiry date. because they think it must be too old to eat. The trouble is young dumpster-divers leave a mess as they have not been brought up to be responsible. If they made sure to make things tidy after taking what they want dumpster-diving might not be frowned upon. Our recycling room was almost closed due to people rooting around and spreading what they did not want all over the floor. I am all for using things people no longer need. It even reduces the cost of disposal. But I strongly disapprove of divers not thinking that the mess they leave means trouble for the owners of the dumpster or recyclimg room and even that the recycling room will be closed.

[@gayashmf]

Is it illegal to dumpster dive, I'm thinking about checking out a gamestop by my house

[@anitafamily9767]

Hei could you find any food from trash bins supermarket again

[@noseefood1943]

at circle k, they threw away anything expired even one hr wouldn't let us eat it due to liability

[@protectbodythetans]

0:19 imagine his parents face watching this after having spend 104k in college. Priceless lol.

[@peterbridan3485]

I think he grew up somewhat poor, I fount his parents paid that.

[@michellemarie1197]

I'd also dumpster dive for things like soda cans and stuff to recycle for money and maybe donate the money to charity

[@chenchi6623]

that's crazy xD

[@kaffir76]

❤❤