Freeganism is a lifestyle choice that prioritises the reduction of waste and the promotion of sustainability. As a movement, it has gained traction in recent years, as people become increasingly concerned about the negative impact that consumerism has on the environment. Freegans believe that the current economic system is unsustainable and that we need to find alternative ways of living that are more conscientious of and in line with the natural world.
History
The term "freeganism" first appeared in 1999, coined by a group of activists in New York City who were concerned about the amount of waste produced by the city's consumer culture. While there may not be a single founder or leader of the freegan movement itself, it is believed to have emerged from the broader anarchist and anti-globalisation movements of the time.
Freegans embrace a lifestyle of minimalism, simplicity, and frugality, aiming to reduce their reliance on mainstream society by collecting and using discarded food, clothing, and other resources.
In a thesis written for the University of California, Berkeley, Alex V. Barnard explains that he got involved with the freeganism movement after attending a "trash tour" in Brooklyn:
Perhaps, the biggest problem was that what I saw didn't seem like waste at all. After all, "waste" is supposed to be dirty, rotten, useless, and contaminated; the food we found, on the other hand, surpassed in quality that which I routinely ate in my school's dining hall. It is this sharp contrast between what I expected to find in the garbage and what I in fact encountered that drove my subsequent involvement in freeganism.
Freeganism is often associated with dumpster diving. Practitioners see it as a way to reduce waste and promote sustainability, as well as a way to save money and live more frugally.
Freegans also engage in other practices that promote sustainability and environmentalism, such as composting, recycling, and reusing items, and they often participate in community gardens, seed swaps, and other such activities.
While the term "freegan" is derived from "vegan," freegans are not necessarily vegans. Freeganism is primarily concerned with reducing waste and promoting sustainability, rather than promoting a particular diet. Some freegans may consume meat and other animal products if they are obtained in alternative ways, without contributing to the consumerist-capitalist use and abuse of resources. However, many freegans do choose to follow a vegan or vegetarian diet for ethical or environmental reasons.
Responses and criticisms
Freeganism has received both positive and negative responses from the wider community. Supporters of the movement argue that it is a way to reduce waste and live sustainably while also promoting social and environmental justice. They see freeganism as a way to challenge the current economic system and create a more equitable and sustainable society.
However, critics argue that freeganism is not a viable solution to the problems of waste and consumerism because it does not address their root causes. While freegans may be able to reduce their personal footprint, they are not addressing the larger systemic issues that contribute to the problems they are responding to.
Critics also argue that freeganism is a form of privilege, as it is only accessible to those who have the time and resources to engage in this lifestyle. In fact, although things like dumpster dining are popularly associated with the poor, research on freegans typically finds that its practitioners tend to come from middle- and upper-class backgrounds, with high levels of education.
Interestingly, there are freegans who criticise veganism for being essentially a form of privilege. The author of "Why Freegan? An Attack on Consumption – In Defense of Donuts," dubbed the "original freegan manifesto" by Freegan.info, offers a critique of veganism that also sheds light on why he himself became a freegan:
The vegan theory is essentially a boycott of any products that injure animals in their production. The vegan consumers are flexing their monetary muscle and "voting with their dollars" for the products that don't injure animals. These dollars are voting for coca-cola, big corporate grocery stores, greasy-fast food (we all know Taco Bell vegans), and worse. Shouldn't truly conscientious folks seek something more? I don't vote because no matter who I vote for, the government always wins and when you "vote with your dollars", consumerism always wins, capitalism always wins. So…. make a list of all the unethical practices that really piss you off and make a list of all the corporations and products you want to boycott. Veganism is a good first step, but is your only concern animals? I made this list and when I was done, I couldn't really justify buying anything, I couldn't get behind any aspect of the corporate death consumer machine so I decided to boycott everything… Besides the concern that veganism as an ethic for eating stops short, it is also still a very high impact lifestyle. The packaging from vegan food doesn't take up less space in the landfill or consume less resources just because the food is vegan. The whole produce and consume dynamic is still played out, but the setting is a fancy health food store instead of a supermarket. Veganism is not a threat, or a challenge to the wasteful practices of our capitalist society. (Emphasis added)
Despite the aforementioned criticisms, freeganism has gained a significant following in recent years. The movement has inspired people around the world to rethink their relationship to consumerism and waste. Freegans argue that we can create a more sustainable and equitable society by reducing our reliance on mainstream consumer culture and embracing alternative ways of living.
However, despite any good intentions, another serious criticism and debate surrounding freeganism is the question of its legality.
Is Freeganism legal?
Freeganism involves things like urban scavenging, dumpster diving, and foraging to obtain food and other resources – practices that can also raise legal questions and concerns.
One of the primary legal issues surrounding freeganism is trespassing. In many cases, dumpster diving or foraging may involve entering private property without permission, which can result in fines or other legal consequences.
Additionally, freeganism may be seen as a form of theft, as it involves taking items that have been discarded or left unattended, which is also against in the law in some areas. On the other hand, some jurisdictions may have laws in place that protect individuals who take discarded items from being charged with theft.
The question of the legality of such practices can be rather complicated, in fact. Dr Sean Thomas of the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge devoted a 50-page essay to discussing the issue in the British context. He quotes the UK-based freegan website freegan.org.uk, which describes the difficulty of the question:
Raiding bins from the back of supermarkets is a legally grey area. If supermarkets want to be difficult, they could charge you with trespassing, or even with stealing, in certain cases. It is ironic to hear a store manager claim "Hey, you can't steal our rubbish!" We have heard that, legally-speaking, if you take something which someone does not value then it is not stealing. It makes sense that if we throw something away, we relinquish ownership of it. It should then become automatically available for anyone to make use of. … To our knowledge no one has ever been charged in the UK with stealing rubbish. It is likely that this is because supermarkets realise that prosecuting someone for recycling waste would open up an ethical can of worms. [http://freegan.org.uk/pages/faq.php#11]
And beyond simply trespassing, freeganism can also be associated with the practice of squatting. Just as they believe food waste should be recovered and redistributed, many freegans also argue that empty buildings are a form of "waste" that needs to be put to use. But while freegans consistently endorse squatting, it is difficult to pinpoint how many are actually squatters. Freegan living situations range from trading work for rent to traditional home ownership.
Freeganism and social justice
Freeganism is closely tied to social justice, as both movements seek to address the inequalities that they believe are inherent in current economic systems.
By consuming discarded food and other resources, freegans reduce their reliance on mainstream consumer culture and promote alternative ways of living. This practice also reduces the amount of food that goes to waste, which can be a significant issue in communities that are struggling with food insecurity – the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life (food insecurity can be caused by a variety of factors, including poverty, unemployment, low wages, high food prices, and limited access to supermarkets or transportation).
Freegans also engage in other practices that promote social justice, such as protests and other forms of activism that seek to address the root causes of social and environmental injustice.
Conclusion
Freeganism is a complex movement that encompasses a range of beliefs and practices. While some people see it as a way to reduce waste and live sustainably, others view it as a political statement against capitalism and consumerism. Regardless of one's perspective, it is clear that freeganism has sparked an important conversation about our relationship to the environment and the economic system.
Whether or not freeganism is a viable solution to the problems of waste and consumerism remains to be seen, but it is clear that the movement has struck a chord with many people who are looking for alternative ways of living that are more in line with their values and beliefs. By reducing waste and promoting sustainability, freegans argue they are making a positive impact on the environment and promoting a more equitable and sustainable society.
