The Reno Gazette-Journal's front page article, Reno neighbors ask for law against trash-can diving, quotes individuals supporting the ban. The reasons put forth for the enactement of an anti-"trash-can diving" law, by those quoted, stem from unpleasant encounters these neighbors have had with trash scavengers--trash scavengers who clearly aren't schooled in the ethics of Dumpster Diving. For that reason, today's post will share some of the diving cultures ethos, which can be easily found around the web.

From All Things Frugal:

Dumpster Etiquette & Rules
Don't go behind a closed fence to reach a dumpster. Don't leave a mess. Leave the dumpster better than you found it so those who enjoy this hobby can continue. Don't take paperwork with people's confidential records. Take only what you can use, and leave the rest for someone else.

From Wikihow

Clean up after yourself. If you’ve thrown garbage all around, pick it up and put it back into the dumpster. While you’re at it, throw away other nearby trash that’s on the ground. Leave the area as clean or cleaner than you found it—don’t give dumpster diving a bad name.

From LarynAndJanel.com

HOW TO BE A GOOD DUMPSTER DIVER

--Be quick

--Go after hours so customers don't see you when they come to shop (and to give them some time to dump the "Sell by's" for that day.)

--Keep the area clean (Don't leave trash outside the dumpster and don't pile up bags of food--I recommend working in a team with one person in the dumpster and one person moving them to the car more or less as you find them just in case a store worker comes out. Garbage bags look like garbage bags and if you're piling them on the ground, it would be easy for them to assume you're making a mess that they will have to clean up.)

--Be polite, not antagonistic to store workers (if you encounter them). A number of times I have even gone and asked permission at the loading dock, but normally we don't even see anyone around. If you have a distribution system (friends, workplace, church, Food Not Bombs, etc.) take more than you can eat and share it freely with others. The more you take and can actually use, the more environmental side benefits you reap by rescuing it from the dumpster and the more resources you potentially free up for other good causes. For example, when we find a big haul of bread, Ryan sets up a table at work where people can take bread and drop a donation into a bucket which goes to Bread for the World (he calls it "Bread for bread for Bread for the World").

--When you need to supplement your diving for nutritional or other specific needs, try to buy local. In the summer we joined a CSA as a supplement, and now we try to find any extras we might need at the local food Co-op.

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These are just a few of the sites that promote a dumpster diving ethic. Most of it is common sense.

From the Reno Gazette-Journal article, it is clear the individuals who were leaving trash around, getting in arguments with people when confronted, etc. need a little education on the ethics of their practice.

But, a law is not what is needed.

If people are out throwing trash around and making a mess, I believe any competent police officer could rightly apply litter laws to such behavior; when people are getting in arguments with the residents of a neigborhood about bin-diving, I'm sure one could apply laws regarding disturbing the peace or something similar.

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Below, is a good report. I found the video on the LarynAndJanel.com dumpster diving page. Enjoy.

Inspired by a true story, today  the Hallmark Channel aired an original movie called The Christmas Choir. In the film, there is a dumpster diving scene. The characters are diving for thrown out clothes. They need the clothes so that they can be presentable when they have their Choir performance.  It is a curious story, if you missed it and want to see a positive example of Dumpster Diving--it airs again on Dec. 12th, 18th, and 23rd at 9PM; Dec 24th at 5PM and Dec 31st at 11PM.

Since we're talking TV and Dumpster Diving, last week on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Sally, a Master Dumpster Diver from Nevada City proved how, "One person's trash is another person's treasure." You can check out, a bit about this Master Dumpster Diver here:  http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/slideshow1_ss_decor_20071113_350/6

Hi I am Jon Epsteyn. Today I've been invited to contribute, as a guest blogger, to the Save Reno Dumpster Diving campaign. Some of you may remember me as the host from the Reno themed adventure show Keep'n it Reno. In this post, I'm just going to contribute my two cents--Dumpster Diving can be an adventure sport.

Check it.

One man's trash, is another man's retirement fund...

...and food for the month. 

Listen. Let's get real here. NO, I'm serious.

Modern American society discards more food and functional items than anywhere else on the plantet--check it, America's trash is trea$ure RICH. Studies estimate stores throw away more than 55 billion pounds of food a year, and Americans waste $43 billion worth of food a year. This isn't even touching upon non-edible goods. With all this wasted food being thrown away on a daily basis--why go to a restaurant--bins of glory are lurking everywhere.

How can anyone think to outlaw "trash scavening". Get real people--you are telling me, the sofa I picked-up from the curb (that is oh so perfectly broken in) is a crime. Or going to be a crime. The "bruised" bananas aren't edible? Come on. Let's think about this smartly. Let's IQ it to the stratosphere... 

Ever wonder what it's like to Dumpster Dive?

Let me give you a few tips.

[Caution to newbies: If it is your first time, and you are feeling kinda weird climbing into a dumpster-- DON'T!!! Ask a bum for tips. If you are too shy to do that, here are my tips for successful adventures in salvaging science.] 

Mindset

1. Just think of it as climbing into a second-hand store with a slightly different smell. Personally, I like to wear my full piece Dumpster Man technical diving suit--cape-of-superness, breathing apparatus--think S.C.U.B.A. or aromatherapy--and all (I like fresh scents and so do the bikinied hotties I dive with).

Essentials

2. Water proof boots are key, never go in without a rubber. Better safe than sorry (hard-core divers should google trench foot if you doubt my hard won wisdom).

3. In winter, a good pair of ski gloves are excellent for snowball construction and, even more, they keep the fingy's safe from poky's in the bin. At other times, in warmer environs, desinger leathers are my favorite cover. 

4. This might not be a tip, but more a personal preferences--GO AT NIGHT: that way, less people are around to look at you funny and judge you. Isn't it funny the morals some attach to this pastime? Be a strong proud diver and resist their glares of indignition. By this method--diving can be a spiritual adventure--you serve the earth through commodity salvation (vis-a-vis consumption) and through participating in this activity you build a tolerance to social pressure. Do it. Feel it. Dive!!! Dive!!! Dive!!!

5. If you are still hestitant, my best ninja channeled super secret tip is: BE LIKE THE RACCOONS. Study their style, follow their ways, meditate on the raccoon-totem and earn your black belt in the kingdom of SUPER DUMPSTER DIVING GLORY.

6. Don't get overwhelmed or greedy. There is a lot, a ton, a freaking horrendous clusterfucking and outrageous amount of diving gold out there for the taking. Leave Walmart for the suckers. The only business model that will discount to zero is the trash. Always know this, grasshopper, there will always be treasure. Who needs a bailout when you can just dive in? SPLASH on that Wall Street, put your dumpster diving speedos on and let that DOW average plunge. 

6. Bring your date on a Dumpster Diving Adventure. If she/he/shim can't hack it--they ain't worth it. There is no better way to identify a gold digger. Unless you're bucks-up and a tool, TEST YOUR MATE IN THE DUMPSTER: this is hard won knowledge and the best dating advice I ever learned from the GREAT INDIAN DIVING GURU popularly known as Swami-Have-Big-Harem-Must-Dive-To-Feed-My-800-Offspring-Dumpster-Makes-Me-True-Man-Krishna; bless his enlightened buddha-being, he recently left this realm in an untimely manner, after diving at what he thought was an Indian Viagra factory. He wound-up overdosing on pills that were actually Gandhi evapo-sea-salt (Adios British) and baking soda. A tear drops; but, a smile lingers because my intimate s*xual relations have never been so fulfilling since I began practicing his gold-digger ident DUMPSTER DATE ADVENTURE method of soul mate salaciousness. As Swami always said, "You're never in the dumps when you're in love with a dumpster diver."

7. Finally, chill. Have fun. Take your time. Breathe deep and ponder. Expand your awareness; expel your consumptive habits. Reduce your ecological debt and feel good. Be proud. Sing the glories of the dumpster. Join a Dumpster Diving Choir. Reclaim the refuse. Dignify the dumpster. Because you are doing it, others will follow. Remember, we are the circle of life. Ignore the social conditioning that is the voice causing doubt in your head. Dive!!! Dive!!! Dive!!!....and leave the mass market behind. What????

Dive!!! Dive!!! Dive!!!

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ANNOUNCEMENMT: Come one and all--the curious, the hesitant, the sympathizers and the dumpster-diving hardcore to the Save Reno Dumpster Diving Party on December 14th. Stay tuned to get hip with the time and place to party, talk trash, connect and share Dumpster Diving Adventures. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST.

Today, KOH Radio interviewed me--I'm not sure if it was broadcast or not--if anyone heard it, could you let me know when it was broadcast.

Here is a CNN report on Dumpster Diving and the "Freegan" (Freegan.info) movement in New York City. For anyone who thinks Dumpster Diving is for bums, this report will counter such misconceptions. Check it out.

There are many instances of positive dumpster diving in Reno. As I went through my normal day, I chatted with the many people I encounter about Saving Dumpster Diving in Reno. Everyone I spoke to volunteered stories of their experiences Dumpster Diving or those of their family members and their friends. Most people were surprised that people in the Reno community wanted to ban "trash scavenging". Nearly everyone I spoke to had read in the paper, heard on the radio, or seen on the TV about the proposed ban. Most thought, as I do, such a ban enforcable by law would be ridiculous and not stop them from liberating usable items from the trash. It would only turn their hobby, or in most cases the rare opportunity to make a dumpster find, criminal.

Surfing the net, I came across a curious site-- http://dumpsterdiving.meetup.com/cities/us/nv/reno/. It is a site for meeting up with others having similar interest. It is unusual because there are fourteen people waiting for a dumpster diving meet up group to form. Yet, no one is stepping forward to form the group. That looks like a new task to accomplish over the next few days.  

Furthermore, today, I made many contacts with people willing to come forward and support Dumpster Diving; a few hours were also spent sending out press releases to local Reno media, some national organizations and news agencies. We'll see shortly if the Dec 1st and 2nd media blitz on this issue can keep up until the proposed Dec 17th ban proposal is to be heard. Media or not this blog will keep tabs on the relevent events and continue to serve the public in Dumpster Diving awareness and the fight against a ban on trash scavenging.

Today begins Reno's pro-Dumpster Diving campaign. The catalyst for the creation of this grassroot movement was yesterday's front page article in the Reno Gazette-Journal, Residents seek ban on trash scavengers. Some of Reno's evening television news station also broadcast segments about the ban sought on trash scavengers. This was followed by reports on radio stations today.

The villification and mudslinging of dumpster divers, curb crawlers, trash scavengers and others who seek treasure in the receptacles filled with what some consider trash is horrendous. Who hasn't retrieved useful items from the trash?

The purpose of this site and blog is to inform the public and galvanize the local community in support of trash scavenging, dumpster diving, and other forms of recycling.

Today, while at the Virginia Street Antique Mall, an antique dealer, who has bought items from dumpster divers, quipped, "Dumpster diving is the ultimate form of recycling."  

With that in mind, Save Reno Dumpster Diving will keep tabs on this issue while informing its readers about the value of Dumpster Diving. The website is currently in development, we started it today. But rest assured it will get better--with more links, more commentary, more stories and more trashy excitement in the next few days.

We've got an event planned to show support for Dumpster Diving in the Reno area. It will take place Sunday December 14th at a downtown Reno art gallery. Keep your eyes here, details will be revealed in the next few days.