Is our low economy and live-green drive going to promote freeganism in the U.S.?

Perhaps for a minority, but in large part, I believe that if the economy improves, then our short sightedness will return. Americans are too fond of their comforts and too lazy to make significant changes until they have no choice.

Nope. Remember, that someone has to produce the stuff freegans feed off of. They can only ever be a small portion of society before there is nothing left for them to use.

@wundayatta You’d be surprised at what people throw away.

@Pele I’m not talking about what people throw away. I’m talking about how much of it they throw away.

I don’t think it will ever become mainstream.

@marinelife Not mainstream, as more common?

@wundayatta Well I’m sure not enough for everyone, but a good amount of people may try this out.

One percent of the population would be almost four million people. I’d be surprised if there is enough stuff for more than four hundred thousand folks nationally to be freegans.

@Pele While I think it may spread and become a little more common, I do not think it will become a major movement in our society.

@marinelife I agree with you on it becoming more common. As a movement it could create buzz though. I think.

If I had to. My dumpster would be behind the Cheesecake Factory.

@wundayatta is right, with the economy taking a down-turn, businesses will become more fugal with what they have and less and less ‘viable’ food will go into the trash

The sad thing is that there are laws in place which make dumpster diving necessary… meaning that restaurants are not permitted to give away or donate the food that they toss, there are health codes in place that make it illegal.

I really think that this is the case. Many in our freegan community have joined us because of the economy. Some of us are there regardless of our finances (whether they’re up or down) because we believe in the principles, as well.