I finally got out to dumpster dive since all the college students are moving out and I have been staying in an awesome house (im leaving berkeley as I write this) with an experienced dumpster diver. Ive wanted to dumpster dive for a long time now since it does seem a little bit harder in los angeles, so I was very excited to do it in the day time behind the berkeley bowl marketplace.
What I learned: Keep It Clean!!!
No one cares if you rumage through their trash, as long as the trash you dont take stays IN THE DUMPSTER. Thats your only chance of having a good relationship with market stores, and residential people. One persons trash is another's treasure.
Is it harder to find dumpster food if your Vegan?
Just the amount of FOOD that is thrown away in the U.S. is INSANE. I found bags and bags and bags of still good dark red cherrys, perfectly good sweet corn that i love to eat raw, bell peppers, tomatoes, bananas, some mangoes, its usually an abundant surprise. On average, id say atleast 60% of food that you would even feel safe eating is Vegan. The only Non-Vegan things i found last time was a bunch of expired coagulated baby cow growth fluid and one bag of bagels that also had coagulated baby cow growth fluid on em. In residential dumpsters especially around college people you will find lots of perfectly good food.
Tons perfectly good baguets for free:
This time that i went dumpster diving with friends this random lady gave us a crate of bananas, more bread, some other things, but i was super surprised when she gave us a small tub of perfectly good CASHEW YOGURT!
From my experience, you dont know what to expect. Just have fun! Its amazing to get so much free food and its a great bonding experience with people too, go on a dumpster diving date!
