How Dumpster Divers Became Sustainable Heroes | One Small Step

[@katiehemstreet8939]

I worked at PetSmart for many years and they destroy tons of perfectly good products because they "pennied out," I.E. the register no longer recognizes the product. So perfectly good pet food, leashes, collars, beds, shampoos, etc. gets destroyed instead of donated to animal shelters in need. I was horrified when I found this out. It needs to stop.

[@janecarolhogue3140]

I won't go to petsmart because of the destruction of pet food that should be donated

[@matthomewood5485]

@Lucy Biggers Preach!

[@matthomewood5485]

@@janecarolhogue3140 If enough folks shift, we will live in a different society!

[@nevadag606]

That’s so sad 🥺 shelters would absolutely thrive if those goods were donated. There has to be legislative force to stop the endless needless waste cycle

[@matthomewood5485]

@@nevadag606 100%

[@inodelacruz1245]

Food waste is the dumbest problem of the world!

[@ren_ren.___]

This reminded of "Food Waste is the world's dumbest problem" a video made by Vox

[@kris_crafter]

"Food insecurity" is an increasing problem. In other words, there are Americans starving. There's no excuse for it.

[@kris_crafter]

There's no reason that food couldn't feed the rest of the world as well.

[@kris_crafter]

During the pandemic meat processing plants shut down. Farms that raised pigs killed 1000s of pigs each and sent them right to the landfills. They showed pictures on TV and the piles of dead animals were as tall as the buildings they were raised in.

[@matthomewood5485]

100%. But a very profitable one too.

[@nevadag606]

Anja saying that they slash clothes that get thrown away to “protect the brand” “so poor people who dig in the trash can’t wear them” made me feel sick, I want to cry. How absolutely vile and disgusting do people have to be to be THAT cruel to people suffering.

[@OnewBiased]

Yeah, that's bs right there. Why can't they just cut up the brand tag and donate the goods if they're that "protective" about their brand? I know it's not ideal, but at least it will be immediately usable and not go to waste

[@thecatfromoregon]

These corporations haven't realized this yet, but brands like Burberry are actually devaluing their image more by damaging out. Their products would actually look more valuable if old inventory were sold at affordable prices , and even if they donated it to charities. If they're still worried about brand image, they can just rip out the tags as long as they leave everything else intact.

[@SGast]

The bare minimum a brand could do in my opinion is to make sure that there goods don't end up in land fills. Preferably by making them available to people that need clothes. If not they could at least be recycled using the fibers to produce something else like it is sometimes done with unsaleable donated clothes.

[@georgebalan6201]

I don’t get why this is wrong. Nobody deserves anything for free and if you’re suffering and so poor then you absolutely do not deserve clothes that people pay thousands of dollars for as that’s just not fair.

[@dewereldheerser]

@@georgebalan6201 if you dont get why this is wrong than you have a lot to learn in life

[@4babyhael]

My husband works for a grocery store, he usually brings home food that are about to get thrown away. Also since he is 1 of the managers he makes sure he gives some of those food to his people too instead of getting thrown away

[@4babyhael]

We never pay for bread, eggs and milk anymore

[@matthomewood5485]

@@4babyhael that is commendable. 99% of chains refuse this, it's unacceptable.

[@2243cbl2]

Bless him and the grocery store owners

[@gearzone2611]

If the management know that, he'll get fired for doing it.

[@gearzone2611]

@@2243cbl2 The grocery owners would never do this due to regulations and the law. They dumped these because they are following the rules and the guide lines.

[@calikid1520]

This absolutely broke my heart. I am a teacher working in a low economic area. I can't count the number of times I've given students my lunch or breakfast because there's no food at their home. How can we have kids in this country going hungry and people are throwing out good food?

[@matthomewood5485]

It's an incomprehensible situation. I am sorry to hear that the children you teach have been struggling. It is heartbreaking.

[@megakaren2160]

But you know who is going to eat that food? The rats. We could have used that food to feed people, but no. It goes on the curb in plastic bags. When the sun goes down, the vermin come out and it's an all-you-can-eat buffet.

[@alvinmah6148]

The parents needs to be educated. They have poor financial and family planning. No one owes anyone a living.

[@slashbat2375]

@@alvinmah6148 poverty is literally a cycle that's nearly impossible to get out of, sure nobody owes them anything, but if you need help with something in life wouldn't you hate being told "deal with it?". I'm sure you've needed help with something before and expected people to help you out.

[@alvinmah6148]

@@slashbat2375 Teaching someone to fish, you saved him for the rest of his life. There’s a reason why some people remain poor. Mentality.

[@CaseyUnderCovers]

Those bags of bread make my heart ache. When I was a kid living in low-income housing, the local bakery would come around to the different housing complexes in a big van and donate their unsold baked goods. Loaves of bread, bagels, croissants, doughnuts, cupcakes, cookies, baguettes, you name it, it was there. My mom and many of my neighbors would fill the freezers with whatever they could. I cannot tell you how many times my parents counted change to buy a loaf of bread or gallon of milk throughout my childhood. That bakery was a Godsent for us in those days.

[@carameldoll96]

I'm curious as to why they just left it there? Why not take it to a shelter or something? To me seemed like we'll shine a light on what businesses are doing, but still leave perfectly good food in the trash, but yet complain that it could go to ppl who need it??!?! Make it make sense.

[@CaseyUnderCovers]

@@carameldoll96 It doesn't really make sense. Sadly they aren't solving many issues with this video. Sure they saved a few items, but that's not much in the context of this demonstration. This video only highlights that there is a large problem.

[@mr.johndoe2659]

@@CaseyUnderCovers yeah but it can spark change when the masses know

[@CyberMachine]

@@carameldoll96 Homeless shelters dont want food that;s been opened or in the garbage. If they choose to eat it then it's their risk. The bakeries should be donating it instead

[@carameldoll96]

@@CyberMachineI get what your saying. But technically it's not in the "garbage" it's in a garbage bag while in its own package, with other packaged bread, on the side of the road, as opposed to being in a dumpster with actual trash on top of it🤷🏽. I can understand if the bread was not packaged itself and was open in the garbage bags. If the business donated them I feel like it would POSSIBLY be sent in the same way. In any case I think it's wasteful to just throw it out.

[@ellenkuang8853]

My coworker at a biotech I used to work at had parents who owned a small strawberry farm that would send their harvest to a wholesale distributor for grading and distribution. If 1 container of strawberries on the pallet didn't pass the whole pallet wouldn't pass and couldn't be sold. My coworker said he'd used to get calls from the distribution center to pick it up if they wanted it back and he'd haul it all the way to work at the biotech and send out a building wide email that there's a whole pallet of free strawberries.

[@richardlinares6314]

Wow, should have started a jam business.

[@NinaM-82]

When college students move out, all the cleaning supplies, vacuums, lamps, dishes, and clothing you could possibly donate is tossed. My best college move out score was a trash bag full of Coach purse's and clutches in every color. My dream item was an UGG comforter set and I eventually scored a king UGG set still in the bag at BBB. Just the other day I found Brand New Nike flex runners in the gym dumpster tags still on. Great video 💜

[@matthomewood5485]

Mad how much people waste... Such a shame.

[@NinaM-82]

@@matthomewood5485 absolutely agree

[@Anonymous-wb3nz]

*purses. Learn proper grammar, "college graduate".

[@samantha4138]

Wait so after they move out they just throw most of their stuff? Why??

[@spacefabi]

@@samantha4138 far more common than you think! Many of these kids are heading back home or moving to different places and don't want to sort out what happens next with their items. A family member works in luxury rentals and it happens on this level too. If someone doesn't take unwanted items off their hands they just leave it and it gets dumped or the staff take it. Scored a 2k marble table this way lol

[@bookworms77]

My favorite bagel place sells "bagel chips" which are cut up left over bagels made into chips, they last longer as they are baked and dried and at the end of the week the unsold chips and bagels are given away. It's not impossible to be a good business both ethically and financially.

[@matthomewood5485]

It just makes good sense doesn't it? Let's save the problem that is white flour products for another time haha. But you are right there are many options available to all!

[@noahstetson9264]

Omg I love bagel chips! And you're right, reducing waste is not only better environmentally, but also financially!

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

I use to dumpster-dive in Seattle in the early 80's. My boyfriend and I completely ate and earned our money at flea markets from the stuff we found in dumpsters and Salmon from his constantly fishing retired dad. I was amazed back then of the waste. You would think people would have learned 40 years.

[@alanbirkner1958]

I finished college in 1970. We shopped at Salvation Army and rummage sales then. This is not new. The sad part is shopping as a hobby and people who can't live within their means. Tina

[@Pikkabuu]

Do you think that people learn anything? We still have the same problems people had thousands of years ago!

[@amelie3012]

In London I see loads of bags full of food on the streets in bin bags when I go. Then there are sushi places like Itsu and Wasabi. One hour before closing everything perishable is half price. Of course there is less choice than the rest of the day, but it encourages people who wouldn't otherwise purchase to purchase the leftovers. In Germany and in FranceI think? (Sure for Germany, not sure about France, fact check) bakeries are required by law to give their leftovers to charity at the end of the day. It's always been common practice in France for some bakeries to give more than the customer ordered near closing time, such as 7 croissants instead of 5 or an additional pastry that they didn't order when ordering more than one pastry. It makes the customer happy. This world is a capitalist system, but a capitalist system can be built to eliminate food waste if companies are given financial or legal incentives to do so.

[@Ratchet4647]

Bingo! You're on point with your last point! Eliminating food waste is perfectly compatible with our capitalist economy, we just need to encourage the necessary practices in our society. Once I ordered a pretzel at a booth at a rest stop just before closing and they gave me extra pretzels and a couple cups filled with different flavored pretzel bits! It was great!

[@matthomewood5485]

Great examples about the bakeries from France and Germany, it just makes good sense all around! This is why supporting small specialist businesses is often better. They actually depend on your custom whereas the big brands on the whole couldn't care less. I wonder how much food waste there is in London hospitality?

[@waweboardgirl]

In Germany dumpsterdiving is illegal and can get you in pretty bad trouble. And sadly you are not obliged to donate. It is even cheaper for a lot of companies to toss instead of donating because taxes on donations are higher than the dumpster fees.

[@TheWinglessHawk]

One info to add for germany: It's only regarding normal "plain" bread. If it is like pizza bread etc it will not be taken. Also cafeteria/mensa toss food out all the time. Reason because the hygiene chain was broken or better said, you can't say for sure if the food wasn't contaminated or not as people are walking up and down the food isle. HOT TIPP: Go to these mensa/canteen/cafeteria at closing time and ask whether it's okay to take it with you instead of it going into the bin. They often are glad to have someone eat the food (which they put the labour in to cook) instead of tossing it out. I learned about this from my ex working in a military unit, who hoped to help some poor souls, because it seems like military canteens have a HUGE overload of food waste... only problem with them. You just can't drive up on a military camp to get it... unless you perhaps call them and drive out the food, but still... wonder if they would even allow that.

[@matthomewood5485]

@@TheWinglessHawk Wow, thanks for sharing these insights!

[@nukacolariley]

I remember working in a grocery store where my managers would often bring me the gluten free food that was going to be thrown out just because it was close to its "use by" date. A lifesaver since gluten free food is so expensive! Can't tell you how many loaves of gluten free bread I ended up bringing home. In my experience, they're good up until a week past their "use by" date but every brand is different.

[@matthomewood5485]

Great to hear! Simple corporate policies like this would change a lot for US food waste, indeed global food waste. It just makes sense.

[@teresacarle294]

💐 Nice. There should be a 💫special place in heaven🕊️ for compassionate managers (& employees) who use their "discretionary powers" for good. Like: (1) sell items approaching "sell by" date, day old 🍞 bakery🧁 items, or holiday/seasonal items (things they wanna clear off shelves) @ a 💲deep discount for customers; (2) offer discarded food/sundries to their 👥staff before tossing 🗑️; (3) bag these things separately in bins to allow ppl in need them to grab them w/o getting the items contaminated 🦠; (4) for bakeries 🥯 & deli's 🥙 to maximize food usage like using day-old bagels, pita bread, tortillas, etc. as chips to sell next day to customers; (5) arrange for 🚚 pick up and donation to worthy local ⛪charities in need of food & other expired goods; (6) who are bundling their non-food Returned or unsold Seasonal 🕯️decor 🛋️, 👕 clothing 👖 , and related stock💄 in liquidation auctions for enterprising entrepreneur resellers 🤑. 🌟 I would wholeheartedly support shops that behaved responsibly toward their "waste", and did whatever they could to prevent perfectly usable items from being destroyed ✂️/🔨 or going straight to the landfill😱. 🗣️Talk about "cancel culture" think corporations that do absolutely NOTHING to curb this wastage, who purposely damage stock, carelessly toss out items, or lock bins ought to be SHAMED outta business 📲. 🛃 It should be against the law for these corporations to lock bins & make dumpster diving illegal in order to protect these evil secret sins👿. Many of our 😵politicians have 💰sold their soul👹 to protect 'em too. Am not a militant vegetarian, but thinking of all those animal (🐄🐔🐖🐑🐐🐟) products (inclu. dairy that I do consume 🧈🥛, 🥚, 🧀). All that these corporate retail giants squander daily makes me sick 🤢 and angry😡. The animal's efforts &/or ultimate sacrifice count for nothing😭. All the farm produce waste too, esp. when I think about all the food insecure ppl in this pandemic😷. 😙 Whistleblowers deserve acclaim & awards🏆 for their efforts to bring these disturbing things to light. 😉We need responsible business owners who think beyond expediency. 🌎Worse are the companies who push completely false notions about their reducing waste. That create these "slight of hand" proposals for zero waste goals that really won't make a difference. Corporate environmental policies that ♻️ amount to a bunch of slick lies & convoluted speech🙊. 🙏Want a world that rewards Capitalism w/a Heart💜. That includes companies with fair labor practices that do not exploit workers or the Earth's resources. Groups that pay CEOs & top executives salaries in legitimate proportions or ratios to what their average workers earn. For places that have transparency in wages to prevent other pay inequities from happening across the board. Need continued kudos👏 for companies that continue to allow remote work in order to keep unnecessary 🚗 commuters 🚌 off the roads wasting their time⌚, creating 🚕gridlocks 🚛, and worsening our overall carbon footprint. 😫 Certainly the madness of coronavirus lockdowns has proved zoom teleconferencing & other online tech kept WFH efforts productive. Also reduced the need to adhere to costly formal business dress codes that use exploitive fast fashion industries as well as natural💦 or chemical resources to keep these wardrobes in good order. ps 🏪Corporations & wealthy individuals🏌️ that offer carbon off-sets as some kind of "get-outta-jail-free-card" for continuing environmental wasteful practices is simply a shell game for the ultra elites. It does not replace bad behavior with more eco-responsible choices for the environment🌿. 🚫Even if every ordinary consumer actually did their part to reduce their environmental impact and responsibly recycled, it would not come any where near the deplorable volume of corporate waste. 😏Although we do need to encourage that consumers reduce waste & repurpose goods more. Our packaging waste is simply not keeping pace with any official recycling efforts. 😔Sorry for long winded rant. 🎉Thankful for grassroots activists that try to make a legit difference in the world.🌎 💚 Bridget from Cali ☘️ (using my pal's YT acct)

[@Kittenmom2]

That’s so sad when people are struggling to pay their bills

[@matthomewood5485]

It really is. 690 million suffering from severe food insecurity on Earth, and then, as you mention, all those billions of folks who are struggling to get by.

[@jsetennis9224]

Exactly, people could save a lot of money if these places donated their products to these people.

[@kats.2098]

I worked at Spencer's for a short time. This was well over 10 years ago. I still remember being absolutely shocked and sickened at the items we damaged out. They weren't even "out of date" literally cool back packs, socks, keychains, tshirts, handbags. Things, especially children and adults would have been thrilled to own. I still feel sick. I STILL feel disturbed by it. I hate corrupt corporate America. I quit soon after but I helped rip up those perfectly good items that day. The whole time thinking how excited a kid would be to have this that can't afford it.

[@matthomewood5485]

It is so sad to hear how much the employees suffer under this horrific system.

[@hippocraticly6167]

Employees destroying necessities... just donate the items and keep the wages? Sickening I have to find a solution that only values profit to have any hope in this backwards culture

[@seebeyondurself1st82]

In my history class I had a chapter were it mentioned this, in history grocery stores and stores in general do throw away their products to keep demand up for their products instead of giving it away. They have the idea if its given away no one would care to buy, it’s also greed. It’s a terrible thing.

[@matthomewood5485]

So interesting! This is a decades long problem, and we must get legislatures to stop these businesses cheating the capitalist system which is stunningly efficient at producing goods at low prices. People need this food at the right price!

[@twelvesevven4678]

That is interesting. From a business point of view I have to agree with it to some extent. Very wasteful though, either way.

[@husher5142]

whats worse is when stores lock their bins to prevent people from foraging.

[@mr.mrs.d.7015]

I have been raiding our local thrift store trash since I was 9 years old (some time in the '70's ) I cannot begin to tell you how many working electronics I have found in there

[@matthomewood5485]

I suppose the issue with thrift stores is that they are inundated on a daily! What to do?

[@LiLiBi01]

I'm so glad to use apps like 'Too good to go'. Shops can put up food items they were about to throw out - and get a little cash for it too. Last week I picked up a bag at a small italian supermarket; 5 euros for a full bag of cheeses, veggies and an amazing dried sausage. It felt like Christmas unpacking that bag!

[@kellyi1608]

Yes!! That app is awesome, I wish every store used it

[@lisaturtle6374]

Yes I love diving. I haven’t bought Bath and Body works candles in a year. I haven’t had to buy body wash in months. It’s awesome

[@lisaturtle6374]

@@gstrathmore194 Well its hard to find the specific dumpsters from a mall, but like a plaza that has BBW in it. I go an hour after they close with a trash picker (Amazon) and with that reach in there and get stuff

[@lisaturtle6374]

@@gstrathmore194 You’re welcome 😊 I wish there was a way to show pictures in the comments I can show you what I got from Walgreens last night you would not believe the amount of food. it’s insane lol

[@NinaM-82]

I will literally never buy a candle, pen, Ziploc bag, or pair of socks again thanks to the dumpsters.

[@lisaturtle6374]

@@NinaM-82 heck yeah! lol

[@matthomewood5485]

@@lisaturtle6374 I have heard these Amazon warehouses are seriously good finds...

[@Toadman03]

it is really mind boggling how much good food is just thrown out! My wife volunteer to rescue food from a small grocery store for a Food rescue organization in Rockland County and pickup 50 to 100 lbs of food each week just from one store. if I did not show up each week the food would go into a dumpster. What I have come to realize is a lot of effort has to go into not just saving the food but finding a way to store it / find the right avenues to donate it quickly enough so it doesn't go bad including keeping cold things cold. Also funding is not steady to support staff to maintain these types of rescues.

[@beckypetersen2680]

Yes, I think until it is easier and/or cheaper to donate than just to toss, they will continue to toss.

[@juliec3437]

Where I live there is a grocery outlet where stores can offload overstock or almost-expired items. I love supporting them and getting a good deal too.

[@matthomewood5485]

That's the thing it makes sense for everybody, people will buy this stuff if the price was good!!

[@alwkw3783]

I love grocery outlet:):)

[@thecatfromoregon]

I used to work at a campus dining hall. We were required to throw out all food that wasn't sold by the end of the day. Things like sushi, gourmet sandwhiches, entire meals. I smuggled a lot of food home from work at the risk of my job.

[@nadadoesnothing4062]

Same!

[@alanbirkner1958]

My neighbors have given me lamps, clothing, food, and more. They want to throw lots of stuff out. I support two homeless shelters and an animal shelter. Tina

[@robertwalton1054]

I have a friend like that who always calls me up which is every day because she cooks new food everyday and won't eat leftovers and neither does her 3 kids. I was picking up some stuff I ordered from one day as she was making a gigantic pot of beef stew. Then the next day, she sends a text saying "hey I got a ton of leftovers, you want them because you know they're all going in the garbage". She even calls me her personal garbage disposal. I can't believe how much food that would be thrown away if I didn't get it

[@matthomewood5485]

@@robertwalton1054 great to see people doing the right thing.

[@robertwalton1054]

@@matthomewood5485 I have to when she literally tells me it either leaves her house with me or it leaves her house when it's in the garbage

[@kris_crafter]

I live in a city of 25,000 in Iowa. Every large retail store here either has a locked dumpster or compactor. Dumpster diving here is illegal. It's trespassing more than theft. Some food goes to the Community Kitchen and food banks, but much more goes to the landfill which is a giant hill that can be seen from miles away and covers 80 acres. I've yet to meet anyone who is as enraged as I am, or thinks anything can be done about it.

[@kris_crafter]

I shouldn't have watched this video. IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY !!!!

[@matthomewood5485]

@@kris_crafter Definitely! With enough of us, we can change the system.

[@gabriellasaltigerald]

I've seen grocery stores donate meat, dairy, and breads to local organizations that either hoard it (freeze it) or give it to the public. What makes me mad is when a food recall happens and the vendors don't destroy the product and just throw it away. I think the dumpster diver's are going to get lysteria, salmonella or e. coli when they consume the product. The manufacturer did it's part in advising that the food products need to be 'tossed' so the neither the store or manufacturer is not liable. It's sad really.

[@sha_na2902]

My first job was at Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins at age 15. The biggest take away from that job is how much food gets wasted each day. There really shouldn't be any hungry people in the world, with all the food that this world not just the US over produces and then waste. Happy that people are bringing this behavior to light.

[@matthomewood5485]

When I cycled across the USA, it was so shocking to see how much Dunkin Donuts were wasting!! I've never heard of Baskin Robbins? 100% there should be no hungry people on this planet.

[@JacklynAllen]

I love this video, it’s shocking and sad but motivating!

[@matthomewood5485]

Glad you did. Lucy and her team have been working on this for months!

[@FirstNameLastName-wt5to]

This is disgusting and unsafe. It’s one thing to encourage businesses to donate and where I live this is done by a lot of businesses. But going through trash yourself is very risky. There are other reasons why businesses ditch food like recalls and food falling below safe temps for too long. Lettuce is so routinely recalled due to listeria and ecoli in the US you should never touch the lettuce. And in a pandemic, this is just insanely irresponsible.

[@matthomewood5485]

@@FirstNameLastName-wt5to This is simply not true. Luckily for us all, food recalls are a small % of total retail food waste. Please inform yourself more into the topic.

[@FirstNameLastName-wt5to]

@@matthomewood5485 I notice you didn’t address the claim that we don’t know why the food was discarded. Food is discarded for many reasons, including unsafe temps, pests, cleanliness issues, and many many other food safety related issues. Failure to address that risk in this video and to not even consider the dangers of doing this during a pandemic is just irresponsible.

[@kplg6]

Lucy!! I'm so glad you and Anna were able to connect for a trash walk together. It's unbelievable how much edible and usable items end up in the trash 😬 I hope this video reaches more people and we can get some policy changes to hold retailers accountable for their wastefulness

[@matthomewood5485]

Definitely a highlight seeing those two doing their thing in NYC! Policies must change!!

[@melissaramirez2310]

I'm so sad that we waste so much. I want to cry because as a teacher I see a lot of kids who don't have food and to see so much of it get thrown away is just heart breaking.

[@matthomewood5485]

It's terrible isn't it. All this should be donated at the bare minimum...

[@Karebear01]

I’m obsessed with watching dumpster diving on TikTok too! Loved this episode. Thanks Lucy!

[@matthomewood5485]

What are your favourite accounts on TikTok?

[@fairholmka]

Those more animals living wretched lives and killed just to go in the garbage. What a waste of life.

[@sharonstotts7493]

Why can't they just call a food bank to pick it up

[@matthomewood5485]

Madness, isn' it?

[@lindsayo5737]

At leest in The Netherlands i know that they don’t take everyhing. Like holiday stuff after the holiday they don’t want too much. Also we can’t donate things that are out of date

[@danielmarley9922]

I used to work in the food industry, at a bagel place and Italian deli. We would toss so many bagels and Italian prepared dishes. I mentioned to both places that they should donate, but the problem is that they’ve had but the charities ended up being hoaxes, where the food did not got to food banks and instead were resold in bodegas and other food places. Those “charities” got caught, but it deterred them from wanting to donate ever again.

[@husher5142]

liability is the answer

[@annejurado8949]

Even as consumers, we throw away perfect good items (aside from food). I have flipped furniture that my neighbors have thrown out. We have a Thrift store within a mile or two of where we live but I guess it's easier to throw stuff away when we don't feel like dealing with it anymore.

[@matthomewood5485]

consumer food waste is definitely a major issue too. People are throwing their money out of the window - completely crazy!

[@emsxoxo9383]

Aww, Anna seemed so upset that she missed the thrift store trashh :( but good for her for raising awareness!!! I knew we waste so much food n things but this video really opened up my eyes on how much we really are wasting!!!! Its so sad 😞

[@matthomewood5485]

@Lucy Biggers Yes! That segment has lmao...

[@matthomewood5485]

Incredible work she is doing!

[@TheSongwritingCat]

I'm conflicted about thrift stores. Something might be usable but not precious or valuable. There's a limit to how much you can pass things down the line before they're really unwanted. We make too much stuff. The answer isn't to foist all that clutter onto other people.

[@MysterChaser]

I live in a wealthy area. Work at home so I don’t go out much. But I had to run out the other day….2/10ths of a mile. No dumpsters around here, but I do “street pick”. Street picked a beautiful outdoor table for my deck at one house and a gas grill a bit further on. I ran the doorbell and asked the lady if the grill worked. She said it worked fine but she was elderly and alone and no longer grilled. I had to walk the grill home to my house, but it had wheels…… Just used the grill tonight and it worked perfectly. Always wanted a grill! And not too proud to use “used”. I saved that good stuff from a dump.

[@jesselliott604]

During quarantine i started doing this as a free hobby to help myself and others. Things i didn’t need or want i would put in my city’s little pantries with other free food that people can just take what they need. At one store i rescued 25 spiral sliced hams (it was & had been below freezing so they stayed warm) & i donated to rescue mission around Christmas. Same dumpster I’d get 15-20 hams on average per week from thanksgiving to Christmas time.

[@buckeyedav1]

I watch Freakin Frugal on you tube she and her husband dumpster dive mostly at Aldi's and Petsmart and it's crazy the amount of food they find. They use alot of it they have cats and dogs and 2 children. They recently found in Aldi's 500 eggs this is in NJ. I love watching them and seeing the food actually being used but would love to have seen it reduced in the store for people to buy. Our local Aldi's donates their food to a food pantry as does Krogers Giant Eagle and Walmarts but I'm sure alot of it from other stores does get dumped. I worked for Gordon Food Service and they were getting ready to throw a large bag of bell peppers away because one had started getting moldy I ask to buy it and they flat out refused threw the whole bag in the trash. Customers returning frozen meats same thing in the dumpster it went. Anna In Ohio.

[@matthomewood5485]

You're right, many don't end up donating, which is so sad. The issue with dumpster diving is that for most people this is not an option, and so the vast majority does not get eaten. Price fluctuations must be the solution to this, so that consumers can buy these things at good prices!

[@kathyweber6844]

Yes Amy and Dwayne r awesome!!💚

[@buckeyedav1]

@Dirty Towel I eat fruits with a spot of mold all the time just cut it off. AnnaInOhio

[@nss6048]

Unbelievable. This really raises awareness. The production system needs to change. Brave waste warriors! 💪

[@liannestephensen5729]

In my area, foodbanks won't accept expired food even if it's still good like boxed goods that are only a week expired. It's hard to sometimes find a place to donate food to. Alot of stores have compactors where I live and so I'm sure more goes to waste than is known.

[@matthomewood5485]

Compactors definitely means huge waste! It's a huge investment so there has to be ample waste. Food banks are overwhelmed. Why should they accept food a week past its date? Economics is the way forward for this issue, not charity.

[@evelinapustova182]

Recently we started to use an application "Too good to go" ,where for small price you can get a bag of food like this. Not only supermarkets but also many coffee shops there trying to change the situation with local food waste.

[@vivianpham9675]

Can you imagine what also happened to the food that online retailers sell? It probably happens but in a disclosed location where dumpster divers can’t retrieve the food

[@matthomewood5485]

100%. Apparently, Amazon warehouses have huge amounts of food waste. Just need to find out where those goldmines are located...

[@andyjulia]

I work next door to World Market, I have gotten perfectly fine furniture, mirrors, greeting cards, food ornaments etc… so wasteful.

[@matthomewood5485]

Every single store...

[@ashfresna3223]

Nice! I love World Market!! You must find some great things. What a treasure!!!😍

[@cockatooinsunglasses7492]

I remember seeing plenty on yellow mangoes thrown out and I cried because at the time my family couldn’t afford fruit.

[@matthomewood5485]

That's the biggest tragedy of this whole situation - just how many folks cannot afford this fresh food. It is unacceptable.

[@loue6563]

I use to work for Girls Inc. we got donations from many places, without it would we not hav been able to give the girls a snack after school or teach cooking classes. Don't know why most places don't do this.

[@matthomewood5485]

surely it is to do with time and resources? Not good reasons though.

[@laoaganlester1728]

I am from the Philippines and I did dumpster dive in France. While the populations of poor countries are dying of hunger, Rich countries are taking there great situation in life forgronted. I found eggs, chicken, sushi, utensils, clothes and many other items that are not practically trush. Not only supermarkets but also regular citizens. I sent some of the items back home which my family and great friends were very happy to recieve.

[@jjbutterbeans1515]

Social media has the power to change these practices. Keep it up.

[@matthomewood5485]

Thank you! I think so too! Thanks for the support :)

[@SashaTheConqueror]

Wasn't there a state earlier this year that hired police officers to guard the trash a grocery stores so people couldn't get to it?

[@nenee009]

That's so stupid omg :(

[@matthomewood5485]

Oregon, in the midst of a pandemic. Bonkers.

[@Lefthandylemmons]

Yeah, I love recycling and being creative and I’m afraid to even drive by an Oregon dumpster. Heavily guarded and it’s considered stealing:(

[@ashfresna3223]

They don't have good recycling programs in Oregon. That's what I was told by some residents that I had visited over the holidays.

[@NewDay1000]

How can we fall asleep at night when something is clearly wrong? When we can feed a starving world with what we throw away. But all we serve are empty words that always taste the same. -When We Stand Together

[@matthomewood5485]

True. After decades of greenwashing PR, the words sound so hollow.

[@NewDay1000]

@@matthomewood5485 I can't take credit, the lyrics are from the song When We Stand Together by Nickelback

[@janecarolhogue3140]

I get SOOO angry over the waste. So much waste and so many in need

[@matthomewood5485]

The paradoxes and injustices of the current system...

[@ashfresna3223]

Me too.

[@wendyshoo3476]

Wow these food are still good, can feed people on the street in the morning.

[@matthomewood5485]

100% much of this food is weeks from passing the "best before" which doesn't have anything to do with food safety anyway...

[@alvinmah6148]

No one owes anyone a living.

[@wendyshoo3476]

@@alvinmah6148 Its two way here either you are empathy or you are not.

[@amylucier]

If food is actually bad, at least compost it 😢

[@zippydodahquirk9039]

Actually its good that they throw it away because that's how homeless people get what they need. I know because I was homeless before. Without it we would have to rely on controlling Christian transitional housing.

[@matthomewood5485]

At the very least!

[@matthomewood5485]

@@zippydodahquirk9039 I see where you are coming from, but in the UK, homelessness has only got worse, as has poverty, as has food waste. We must separate these issues to fix them all ASAP!

[@zippydodahquirk9039]

@@matthomewood5485 I've been homeless before and nonprofit organizations are corrupt. They don't want people outside the system getting food without the government or corporations.

[@zippydodahquirk9039]

@@matthomewood5485 I know you think you are doing good by asking for no waste but the consequences are dire for the homeless. What happens if we switch to a national digital currency tied to social credit scores and all markets donate to nonprofits and switch to compactors? What will the homeless do?

[@supernayaaa]

I wish the supermarkets would sell more of the food thats going to waste in a big sale pile. I am sure more people would grab it and I think they will be happy to support the supermarket instead of it being thrown out.

[@missbutterlie]

In canada, alot of the big stores lock their bins. Because dumpster diving is considered "stealing". An employee can also be fired for bringing home this food or try giving it away.

[@ms.t7614]

Also, where I live in Canada, you cannot donate food left over at a restaurant at the end of the night. For example, a huge tray of freshly made pasta cannot be donated to a local shelter that same night due to “health concern” reasons. There are actual laws preventing you from doing this! They sell it up to closing to paying customers, but the remaining portions are “not good enough” for people living on the streets? As well, all the sandwiches from 711 convenience stores are rotated every 24 hours and thrown away. My brother-in law got in trouble for taking a huge box full of perfectly wrapped and healthy sandwiches to a local school in a low income area for lunch, they claimed he could of harmed the children with the “expired” food. A sandwich, in a cooler, expires in 24 hours? Who made these ridiculous laws!

[@maggieholt2250]

Canadian broadcasting did a great video on Amazon returns waste, which is horrendously outrageous! If Amazon is the only place to buy a particular thing I thought I needed, I don't need it. The waste that unnecessary packaging creates is mind boggling! And the excuses for not recycling..... I had a neighbor who refused to recycle because she didn't get paid for it as she said she had in another state. To make things even worse, she never smashed any of her trash, so it took up 10x the space it should have.

[@matthomewood5485]

It's definitely not only businesses who need change their ways, although when one witnesses the scale of their unsorted waste, I can see how some folks just give up.

[@angelahicks1946]

I hope that there’s a lot of the food and usable items that are going to our homeless to help them out

[@flowerchild760]

I can attest to this. I am a part of an organization where we pick up stuff from stores around the city and make sure that it goes to needy families. Stores have less waste but also it goes to people who need it. It has been growing over the past few years that I have been involved. Over this past year the amount of families we help have quadrupled.

[@christianboring7752]

Retail stores would rather throw away food , goods for tax writeoff.. Then to donate to the public.. Ppl need to dumpster dive and grab it themselves because thats the way theyre gonna get it for free anyway!!

[@matthomewood5485]

Definitely! A good way to start looking into the problem too.

[@sharontahir9694]

We have a convenience store and when the sandwiches go out of code we would donate to the local food kitchen to feed the homeless. Then the kitchen said they couldn't accept expired food. We run into some of the people who eat there who now ask us why we stopped bringing sandwiches because they really liked them. We hate throwing out good food that someone else could be eating. We still give sandwiches to homeless people who come to our store. Our food waste is extremely low.

[@CrazyJodice]

Bakeries usually throw away all unsold bread from the day. Sometimes they donate it. But it is horrible and wasteful . Walmart usually have trash compactors so people can’t dumpster dive

[@shaunaburton7136]

Watch out for dumpsters that drug addicts use. I stopped dumpster diving because so many needles were in them.

[@matthomewood5485]

That's definitely worth seriously bearing in mind then.

[@ashfresna3223]

You do have to be careful! Not just for sharp or broken objects but also what kinds of store's dumpsters you are diving in. My mom almost had a heart attack after finding Halloween decorations... This was behind a Big Lots in or around October. Imagine seeing a "hand" in the dumpster. Not a good idea to go around Halloween season!!!😱😱😱

[@gabbyquinlan1281]

Here in NSW Australia Coles a supermarket chain donates their out of date that’s eatable to charity or soup kitchens and get a tax deduction, they advertised it as twice around.

[@kaylaterry7052]

i have been a dumpster diver for the last four years i have furnished almost an whole house with items i found. i also had a yard sale with items i found and made almost $400

[@dorcaspowellpowell5971]

As a child I can remember my father picking up items on bulk trash day and then sale them a the paramount swap meet by selling those items it help fund our family needs

[@matthomewood5485]

So many solutions to keeping these goods flowing within the economic system. Anywhere but the trash!!

[@entretenimiento3347]

With how clean stuff comes out this makes me fills this is stage, maybe not but it felt that way

[@nikolnolastname4473]

FYI if you take something from the frozen section take it back, don't leave it on a shelf cause it will be tossed.

[@matthomewood5485]

100%!

[@k.w.1459]

Crafters would love those leather bags and slashed items. They can be fixed or repurposed or at least button zippers snaps and buckles taken off.

[@paulawolanski3237]

These companies don't need "incentive". They need someone to crack down and show them that their BS will no longer be tolerated.

[@handriyanti]

I come from a low income country. Seeing this really breaks my heart because there are a lot people here who can't afford foods, while people in the far away islands throw the foods.

[@KS-cl8br]

If they tax food waste then the cost of this will be passed on to the grocery store customers.

[@matthomewood5485]

Perhaps but then the cost of food will go up, as will inflation, as will wages. So don't worry about that.

[@Camellia303]

Ladies you rock!!!

[@nevadag606]

I want to do this, but maybe once I’m living on my own and it’s easier to get reclaimed foods into the house. My mother would skin my alive if I tried to feed her food “from the trash”

[@matthomewood5485]

People do change once they realise how much of this is so perfect though.

[@cycleTheHike]

Restaurants and stores should start using the apps that offer usable things to those in need. It would be an amazing use for restaurants.

[@krystelhardesty9960]

As a kid I would go with my Aunt and dumpster dive for cow feed, she raised beef cows and they can eat a lot of food waste like bread fruits and veggies. Some time in the late 90's everyone started putting locks on there dumpsters so no more dumpster diving.

[@matthomewood5485]

Where was this?

[@alicea5]

I heard somewhere the retailers can’t give out still useable goods or food due to liability.

[@starburst9053]

Its just like how supposedly you arent supposed to give a homeless person a meal just in case it made them sick somehow...I dont know how such a small possibility of something bad happening should be justification that we just dump perfectly good items knowing someone needs it 😭😭😭

[@alicea5]

@@starburst9053 I know but it could be mandate by the county or other policy. It could also be corporate rule to prevent liability as well. It was mention in a documentary but I don’t remember which one. Ulta do it to their return make up products too.

[@samiksharana5496]

We need more of this

[@charlesmaersk5235]

This what everyday surviving is -philippines

[@bethmorris3492]

I worked at a well know grocery store that would throw away perfectly good food and clothes. When we ask if we could donate them instead of putting them in the trash we were told no they get a bigger tax deduction for throwing them away. So we started telling people about it so they could get it out as soon as we put it in.. and we were informed that this was theft so it could no longer be done.. theft? From a dumpster? Whatever. It mad me so mad.

[@alexandria8349]

The world needs to tackle the waste issue for sure

[@RNAngel7]

Wow what a lot of waste. I do try to do my part. I have been walking around a part of our neighborhood for about 5 years now. I started by taking my mom out in the wheelchair to get fresh air and visit the neighbors. Well, I started seeing things that people threw away and I got hooked. I found so many things it was crazy. My mom would say to me “you’re not going to dig in that trash are you?” I would say absolutely I am. I would find clothes for her with the tags still on them and for me too. Toasters, blenders, juicers, instapot, airfryer, tabletop ice maker, pots and pans, dishes, towels, shower curtains. All the flower pots and some of the plants in our yard are from the trash. On and on. Yesterday found 2 rugs one we put in the living room the other out on the porch. I have found food and sometimes I use it to regrow things like romaine lettuce and onions if it’s not good to eat. Today I did go to the little strip mall by our house and got 36 bagels. I have found pizzas that weren’t picked up so they threw them away. Bread, even picture frames, wood palettes - I did have to go get the truck for those. I couldn’t carry them. LOL. I miss my trash picking buddy - she passed away at the age of 92 and I still go almost everyday and walk. Sometimes I only find a penney or sometimes nothing. My hubby hates Tuesdays because that is the main trash and recycle day in our neighborhood. I try not to make any appointments on that day. LOL. He never knows what I’m going to bring back to the house. He asks what are you going to do with that. I say I don’t know yet. He just rolls his eyes. We donate a lot to the Veterans thrift store and if a neighbor is in need of something we give it to them. Right now the sofa is full of things to take. I also wash things before we take them. I don’t bring things into the house until then. They go to the garage first. I know some people frown upon it, I’ve never gotten sick from anything and never had any bugs and we live in Florida. I even have people yelling out my name when I walk by and they ask do I want this or that and of course I say yes. I’ve even had neighbors stop and pick me up in their car to help me get things home. LOL. It’s an adventure for sure. I never thought I would do this being a nurse for 40 years but I love it. A neighbor gave me a bag on wheels for Christmas to help me carry things. Sorry to go on so long. I am just a bit passionate about doing this. God bless and keep up the good work.

[@WorldofMichaelTrent]

Absolutely mind blowing!! There are soup kitchens and other places that would love to take these things off their hands. What a waste! It blows my mind how many people across the globe, not only in NYC, that go to bed each night hungry. And all of this is in the trash waiting to be eaten.

[@MihaelaV68]

If you’re going into the woods with all those bagel and feed the animals, they will love you for life. I used to buy bags and bags of bread from shop rite years back , for 10-15cents / loaf and feed the deer’s in the woods. I don’t know how and how they knew I was going those days but they were waiting for me. They never gets to close to me but they was there looking at me.

[@malvinnathaniel987]

CBC and Rob Greenfield already made videos on this. Food way before it's expiry date is thrown into the trash for absolutely no reason. If someone can explain how this helps the retailers make profit or avoid any legal issues, it will be very helpful.

[@matthomewood5485]

Check out the Bill Emerson Act in detail, there are no reasons for this. The whole legislative framework is there in that country.

[@malvinnathaniel987]

@@matthomewood5485 that's explains the legal part. What about profit?

[@farehanoor6671]

I am sitting and crying watching this. kids and adults are disappearing , I mean dieing every second all over the world from not having food even a single bite. It breaks my heart.

[@ananyakaewsrisupawong7728]

You guys are super heroes . 👍

[@lindafiske4578]

What yous are doing is commendable i must say. Just make sure that the meats and eggs and dairy products that you collect and donate are/have not expired or "gone bad" spoiled. Ya can get very sick and come down with diseases from consuming spoiled foods. Other than that, keep doing the good that you're doing.😊

[@matthomewood5485]

Definitely! Food safety is so important for anyone new looking to start diving! Please be careful and use your 5 senses.

[@holland9199]

Wow 😮 Grate work, unbelievable 😳

[@shabnamsultana1920]

I’ll have a couple of dozens of those bagels! Why do bakery’s make so much they should know their demand quantity

[@matthomewood5485]

Because the inputs are so low in cost, it is worth to waste a certain amount with the hopes of making more sales. One never, ever wants to turn away a customer and so that comes with huge environmental costs...

[@beccahl1]

Great video! more of them please!

[@Kozamae]

Just a quick browse of comments and I haven't seen needles addressed. If you live in a country like Australia with actual large dumpsters with access to streets and carparks, diving into one outside a grocery store is dangerous! Wear safety gloves, hold bags away from your body and please be vigilant looking for dumped needles in with regular trash. Never dumpster dive a fast food joint, because often the food is high risk of food poisoning and because bathroom cleaning supplies are thrown out together with regular trash. Saving food from the bin is wonderful though :) Dive safely babes!

[@rosedevereux2391]

And what about rats?!?! A dumpster diving video in NYC and no mention of rats? (I am still watching, maybe they address rats later?)

[@melaniemacdonald2530]

What breaks my heart is my brother who is desperate for food for his family cant get enough from the food bank. This could be donated to help supplement these types of organizations.

[@lkp953]

Worked for Fred Meyers. Every night we would throw out pounds of chicken, sliced meat, jo jos and they wouldn’t allow the employees to take it home because it was “stealing from the company” even though the food went directly into the trash. Terrible, some employees were struggling and had to watch a whole chicken go into the bin.

[@AngelErrene]

Look up local laws regarding dumpster diving to avoid getting into trouble.

[@fabienneroure9995]

This is a very good point because where I live it's unfortunately not permitted🙁All this waste is so heartbreaking.

[@karenlee3372]

Yes I agree you can get thrown in jail for taking something out of the dumpster.. that is truly disgusting when you're just trying to save this stuff

[@matthomewood5485]

100%

[@matthomewood5485]

@@fabienneroure9995 Is that in France? Laws around dumpster diving are so backwards...

[@matthomewood5485]

@@karenlee3372 remarkable situation isn't it?

[@jeancm.14]

This really breaks my heart 😢😢😢

[@01wonderful]

I have to say one thing I've seen different in UK. When buying veggies and fruits they go mouldy in 2 days. All my blueberries go bad in just 2 days, my potatoes get all black in just 4 days. My parents used to have potatoes for weeks and weeks without them going black. I've also seen in UK you're not allowed to dumpster dive and if you are caught they will fine you or send you to jail, one of these options.

[@btbingo]

Two decades ago I knew several men who dumpster dived six days a week. They found it very profitable. One of them had a store where he sold recorded music he found in dumpsters and used computers he found in dumpsters. One guy specialized in furniture and store fixtures.

[@matthomewood5485]

The issue though is food, as you cannot resell that. So that needs solving with policy. But great on them for their ingenuity!!!

[@btbingo]

@@matthomewood5485 I recall that several supermarkets locally covered the food in the dumpsters with bleach. This raised an uproar and shifted such foods to charitable organizations.

[@matthomewood5485]

@@btbingo Where was that in the world?

[@fairholmka]

Not only is the food waste upsetting, all that plastic wrapped food being put into even more plastic to throw it out is incredibly wrong. It should be mandatory to donate and compost and business should be fined for the extra unnecessary plastic use.

[@LynseyandAlvinUK]

Wow just found this channel, this video in particular was really interesting. Thank you for sharing the reality of waste.

[@lizzyawesomesocks7163]

I hate that stores will just throw away food like this, I work at a grocery store and all of our damaged or out of code food goes in compost bins that we then ship to a pig farm,, just because something can’t be sold doesn’t mean it has to go in the trash

[@cynicallyyours61]

Don't know about other countries but here in Australia we are required by law, health and safety laws to throw out, out of date products. But I believe with much produce fresh vegies and bread this could be donated to charities to help out the poor and homeless. It breaks my heart to see thrift shops and clothing businesses throwing out perfectly good items.

[@Ali-ft1xw]

Companies should be fined for purposely destroying and disposing of products

[@McCreaFamilyHomestead]

I got fired from Dunkin’ Donuts cause we were supposed to throw away all leftover donuts each night. I wasn’t allowed to keep them so I put put them in clear clean trash bags and put them next to the dumpster for the homeless to get. When the owner watched the camera for a few nights and saw that I wasn’t putting them in the dumpster he fired me.