What is Freeganism:
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.
How Freegans Accomplish Their Goals:
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.
Common Characteristics of a Freegan:
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
Freegan Resources:
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
