Dumpster diving for food in Ireland

Ew or cool?

Dumpster diving is not a new concept and has been common around the world for years.

It involves going to the refuse area of shops or skips on the side of the road and rummaging through it for items that you may not consider rubbish.

A dumpster diver in Cork has said that she only spent a maximum of €5 a week on grocery items after she started dumpster diving.

The laws around dumpster diving in Ireland are vague, most items in skips are the property of the refuse company, but it is always best to ask permission or else you could be prosecuted. A lot of places are more bothered by people dumping their own rubbish in skips rather than taking items from it.

Our Cork dumpster diver said most places she approached were happy (if a little disgusted by the idea) to let her rummage through the bins.

She is vegan so basically living off of dumpster diving was easier for her than others as meat is expensive and unsafe to take from a dumpster.

In the history of her treasure hunts she has found (among many other things) beer, crisps, chocolate, apples, carrots, tea, toothpaste and even an expensive brand of moisturising cream (the packaging was damaged).

She said: “Many shops in Ireland are not permitted to re-sell food items if they have been returned so they throw out perfectly good produce. I am always so careful to check items thoroughly before I take them, it’s so easy when shops use clear plastic bags because I can see in from the outside and don’t need to rummage through black bin bags.”

Here are her top tips for dumpster diving in Ireland:

Dress: Wear clothing that covers your entire body. Hoodies are great and try to wear boots and gloves. Tuck the ends of your pants into your boots and the sleeves of your coat into your gloves.

Inspect: Inspect items carefully. Look at the best before dates. Check for mould or rips in the packaging of food.

Timing: If you have permission to dumpster dive at a shop, ask them what day they tend to throw things out. Keep an eye out for goodies and don’t procrastinate, if you leave and come back the good stuff might be gone.

Permission: Make sure you get permission and know your rights. Stay off private property and don’t trespass.

Give: Give anything you don’t want away to someone who does. Waste not want not.

Dumpster diving is seen as a way of tackling food waste and hunger. Rob Greenfield is an American who has made a living from dumpster diving. He shares some of his top tips in the video below.