Is dumpster diving the latest sustainable diet fad?

Dumpster diving?

The first image that comes to my mind when I hear those words is someone falling head first into a gigantic fly-infested garbage bin – not something I'd like to imagine myself doing, thankyou very much!

But it turns out dumpster diving is nothing like this. In fact, dumpster diving might actually be the most sustainably sensible – and hygienic method of food foraging in our (unfortunately) wasteful society.

So just how much wastage are we talking about here?

Australians waste 4,000,000 tonnes of food each year (Foodwise, 2015).

And 33% of that is fresh food.

I'm talking things from fruits and vegetables, to breads and baked goods, to packets of biscuits and confectionary items. Food food food, so much food, and all of it's thrown down the dumpster shoot.

Who in the world would want to throw all of that food away?!

Well, no one really, but unfortunately when produce goes out of date, supermarkets can't sell it to the public. Most often, the food that is disposed of is still in its packaging - even fruits and vegetables!

In the past few years, 'dumpster-diving' or 'freeganism' has taken over the Western world – Brave and hungry citizens solo dive or group dive into bins and sift through the garbage to find their weeks potential groceries.

And across the globe, the results of this trend have been amazing.

Rob Greenfield "dumpstered" his way across the US and managed to feed over 500 people with $10,000 worth of food he found in garbage bins alone.

Rob Greenfield in Ohio America with a few days worth of fresh food found.

There's even a restaurant in England that operates on leftovers! The Real Junkfood Project makes all of its meals from food other local restaurants throw out or simply don't want. The Real Junkfood cooks work their culinary skills and transform these food scraps into wholesome meals that customers may pay for as they wish!

So what do you think?

Dumpster diving – Disgusting or delicious? Stupid or sustainable?

Would you take the plunge?