Freeganism

Freeganism is a lifestyle in which adherents refuse to participate in consumerism or only partake in limited consumerism. Followers known as "freegans" abhor wasting resources and typically live off the wastes of capitalism. They scavenge, forage, barter, or trade for food or other items; they also grow, share, or make food and products. Many also reduce their energy consumption, recycle, and compost. They generally only purchase goods and services when necessary. The word freeganism comes from the words free and vegan, although, unlike vegans, not all freegans abstain from animal products. Some would rather eat found meat and animal products rather than see them wasted.

Background

While the concept of freeganism is often dated to the 1960s when people embraced anti-consumerist lifestyles, it actually can be traced back to about the seventeenth century in England. Gerrard Winstanley was an English businessperson who sold cloth. After his business failed, he moved to Surrey to raise cattle in the 1640s. England, at the time, was plagued by violence, famine, and unemployment. Winstanley had an idea to establish a community that did not rely on money. Residents worked the fields and raised crops that were shared by everyone in the community. They provided services to one another. Winstanley hated waste and encouraged community residents to use everything they could. He acquired some unused public lands and formed the Digger colony. He wrote about his newfound utopia, but his Digger community did not last long.

In the 1960s, a group of friends who were familiar with Winstanley's writings were encouraged to create a similar society in San Francisco, California. They opened stores that distributed free goods and services. With the help of others, they set up places for people to stay, offered free medical services, and organized free concerts in support of their movement.

The Diggers' philosophy also influenced a man named Keith McHenry, who became one of the figures associated with the early freeganism movement. He dropped out of school to travel the United States. He spent some time living on the streets, where he learned how to survive on items people discarded and wasted. When he was in his twenties, McHenry worked in an organic foods store and was appalled at how much food the company wasted. He asked his boss if he could give the food to those less fortunate at shelters, churches, and soup kitchens. This work led to his founding of the nonprofit organization Food Not Bombs, which distributed discarded food to the needy.

One day, while McHenry was "dumpster diving," or searching through a dumpster for edible discarded foods, he coined the term freeganism. He joked that individuals could be freegan instead of vegan in reference to a found wheel of cheese, which vegans would not eat because of their beliefs but which individuals should eat because it was free. From here, the movement grew. However, McHenry and his organization were more interested in using waste to feed people in need, while freegans used waste as part of their lifestyles.

Overview

Most freegans are not homeless or experiencing poverty; they simply boycott all or most forms of consumerism. Some freegans survive only on stuff they find, while others buy certain items they need but cannot find. Some are fussy and only take wrapped and unexpired foods, while others are known to eat anything they find. In addition to dumpster diving to find food and other items, some freegans grow their own food.

Freegans may also rely on hitchhiking, walking, or biking as means of transportation. Some thwart paying rent or mortgages by camping or squatting, which is illegally occupying an abandoned building or property. Some freegans also do not hold formal jobs. Many, however, volunteer or teach free workshops. While some freegans do not agree with using money, they understand that they do need money in some circumstances and cannot live entirely without it. This is why many freegans sometimes take odd jobs for spare cash.

Many freegans are open to sharing with other people. Some participate in freemeets, which are a type of flea market where no currency is used. People give items away or exchange them for other goods or services.

In addition, some freegans hold steady jobs, drive cars, and own houses. They may apply freeganism to other parts of their lives. For example, they may scour for discarded items for their homes instead of purchasing new goods. They may convert their vehicles to run on biofuels.

Many freegans are dedicated to finding products that people waste for several reasons. They believe that too many people discard perfectly good items, even if the items are still useful. Some people throw away objects that they are tired of or because they want new ones. For example, individuals rearranging their bathroom may throw away bathroom towels or rugs and buy new ones in a new color or style.

Freegans see their actions as a way to fight out-of-control consumerism. They refuse to buy products and foods. Instead, they would rather find what they need or negotiate with others for items. They also see it as a way to reduce their impact on the environment. They generate less waste, which helps keep landfills from becoming cluttered.

Freegans usually can take something that someone has discarded without legal repercussions unless they break a law, such as trespassing on private property. Some people and companies hassle freegans for sifting around in their trash. They may lock their dumpsters or even call the police on freegans. This does not stop many freegans, who usually have a set routine and scour trash for items when businesses are closed.

Some opponents criticize freegans because it is impossible to avoid purchasing any items. For example, they say that freegans are forced to participate in consumerism in some cases, such as when they have to buy cooking fuel. While it is no secret that Americans can be wasteful, not everyone agrees with the idea of freeganism as a solution. Opponents instead want individuals and companies to end their wasteful practices. They believe that society needs to become more aware of wasteful habits and take measures to combat them.

The freeganism movement experienced a rise in popularity in the early 2000s. As the twenty-first century progressed, freeganism remained a viable way to critique consumer culture and wastefulness, particularly food waste. Global practices of freeganism expanded beyond dumpster diving, or urban foraging, to include initiatives like community-based sharing programs and online freecycling groups. However, challenges such as health and safety concerns, legal issues, and the inherent reliance on the capitalist (or dominant economic) system persisted.

Bibliography

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