7 Eye-Opening Lessons We Learned from Dumpster Diving

06.02.2025 | By Joana Pechirra

What if we told you that supermarkets throw away perfectly good food every day? And that you could find fresh, edible produce worth over €85 just sitting in a dumpster? On the 29th of January, a group of us at DRH Lindersvold set out on a dumpster diving adventure, and here’s what we learned.

1. SUPERMARKETS THROW AWAY A LOT OF FOOD – MOST OF IT STILL GOOD.

From fresh vegetables to packaged goods, we were stunned by the sheer volume of edible food sitting in dumpsters. Some items had slightly damaged packaging, while others were past their expiration date but still perfectly safe to eat. Seeing so much food discarded reinforced how much needs to change within the food industry to reduce unnecessary waste.

2. TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

We went at 10 pm, right after the stores had closed, as that’s when food is typically discarded. Arriving at the right time ensures a better chance of finding usable food. Many supermarkets follow a strict routine for waste disposal, meaning experienced dumpster divers know exactly when to go for the best finds.

3. FOO WASTE INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS

We expected to find mostly bruised fruit and vegetables, but the reality was far more diverse. There were bakery goods, dairy products, and even large quantities of Jerusalem artichokes, which many of us had never tried before. It made us realise how much perfectly good, nutritious food never makes it to consumers’ tables.

4. DUMPSTER DIVING MAKES YOU MORE CREATIVE IN THE KITCHEN.

Using what we found challenged us to get inventive with our cooking. With no guarantee of what we’d bring back, we had to plan meals around the available ingredients. It became a fun team effort and made us appreciate each dish more. Even the process of cleaning and storing the food added a layer of intention to our daily routines.

5. IT’S A POWERFUL EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE

While it was exciting to recover good food, it was also overwhelming to see how much was thrown away for seemingly minor reasons. Some of us felt a strong mix of joy and discomfort—it’s thrilling to save food from waste, but it’s also heartbreaking to realise how normalised this wastefulness has become. We often say it’s a good night when we find nothing.

 6. MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALISE HOW MUCH FOOD IS WASTED.

This isn’t just a supermarket problem—it’s a system-wide issue that includes producers, sellers, and consumers. Many people throw away food at home simply because they misunderstand expiration labels. Our experience made us more aware of our own habits and inspired us to shop more consciously and waste less in our daily lives.

7. SUPERMARKETS COULD EASILY REDUCE WASTE.

Here are some simple steps stores could take:

• Offering discounts on soon-to-expire products.
• Placing short-dated food in more visible spots.
• Selling “expiry bundles” at discounted rates.
• Partnering with anti-food waste initiatives like Too Good To Go.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Dumpster diving was an eye-opening experience. It made us question why so much perfectly good food is wasted and how we can change our own habits to be more mindful consumers.

Would you ever consider trying dumpster diving? What are your thoughts on food waste? Let’s discuss ways to reduce it together!