Dumpster Diving Essay

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1. In your own words, give a one-sentence definition of Dumpster diving.
Dumpster diving is the act of finding resources through trash disposed by others, and used for one’s everyday needs or wants.

2. List some of Eighner's answers to the question, "Why was this discarded?" What additional reasons can you think of?

Eighner’s explains that the reasoning behind some of the discarded goods was due to possible diseases that can be brought from the rotten canned foods. He also explains that some students in college seem to throw almost everything out between moves and at the end of semesters. More reasons why things are discarded would be the lack of use of whatever products are used, and because of expiration dates being passed.

3. What foods does Eighner take particular care to avoid? Why? …show more content…
He also explains how it may become addictive and this could lead further penalty.

5. Summarize the stages in the process of learning to scavenge.
The stages include scavenging food healthy non-rotten foods, finding objects that may be useful for you, search in the right areas, search in the right time, safe drugs and antibiotics for future use, use tests in order to see if drinks are well enough to use, and collecting small objects at a time.

6. In addition to food, what else does Eighner scavenge for? Into what general categories do these items fall?
He searches for shoes, drugs, wine, clothes, drinks, and food.

7. Why does Eighner hate can scroungers?
Because a regular dumpster diver makes more money than a can scroungers do. He feels the can scroungers do way more work than needed.

8. What lessons has Eighner learned as a Dumpster diver?

He has learned how to preserve, figure out methods to see if foods and drinks are good enough for use, and he learned how to find the perfect dumpsters to dive in, when to back away from dumpsters due to fire ants, and how to simply survive on the way he

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Due to the high rate of homelessness in the United States, the act of dumpster diving has become a very common phenomenon. In his article “On Dumpster Diving”, Lars Eighner describes his experience as a dumpster diver. Throughout the article, Eighner explains the dangers as well as the benefits of being a scavenger. Eighner’s main point for writing the article is to document what he has learned while being a dumpster diver (Eighner 672-684). Eighner begins his account by expanding on which foods…

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