Freeganism is an anti-consumerist movement. It takes issue with society's focus on buying new and throwing away old (but still useful) items. In the simplest terms, freeganism is a reaction against the waste of resources. Participants, known as "freegans," have two main goals: to buy as little as possible and to use only what they need.
To mimimize their participation in the consumer economy, freegans forgo shopping in stores, and instead rely on alternative sources for their needs – even food. This may include:
- Dumpster diving
- Curb shopping
- Bartering or trading
- Foraging for wild food
- Sharing
- Gardening
Freegans also attempt to limit their impact on the world by using fuel-friendly modes of transportation (biking, walking, public transportation and carpooling), recycling, composting and reducing their energy consumption.
While freegans are a diverse group, with a wide-range of life experiences and interests, members do tend to share certain characteristics. The typical freegan is:
- Committed to living off the wastes of capitalism
- An environmental, political, or animal-rights activist (or some combination of the three)
- A vegan or meegan (only eating meat that would have gone to waste)
- A strong supporter of his/her community
- Interested in being (or already) free from the restraints of a paying job
Want to learn more about Freeganism? Then, check out these resources:
- Oprah: What are Freegans?
- The New York Times: Not Buying It
- Newsweek: Freegan Girl
- MSNBC: Freegans Choose to Eat Garbage
