Have you ever found treasure in a trash bin? It’s a risky activity, of course. Garbage is smelly, germy and often dangerous. That’s why, when I was twenty, I didn’t tell my parents I’d started Dumpster diving.
I lived in a building with hundreds of other university students. In April, most of us moved away for the summer, and whatever didn’t fit into suitcases got tossed. On my first Dumpster dive, I found seven novels, a set of speakers, a frying pan and an unopened box of Earl Grey tea—all perfectly good. I’ve been thinking about trash ever since.
What makes something garbage? I used to think trash was something no one could use anymore. Boy, was I wrong. Wait until you see how people use garbage! In Paraguay, old water pipes become saxophones. In Haiti, worn-out tires turn into house walls. Around the world, fishermen collect abandoned fishing nets to be made into carpets for office buildings. With some creative thinking, garbage doesn’t have to exist at all. Want to see what that would look like? Grab a cloth bag and a reusable water bottle and follow me!
Beware the scary waste monster! This awareness-raising sculpture spreads its plastic tentacles through the streets of Ljubljana, Slovenia. ZIGA SMIDOVNIK
My family always looks out for free piles on weekend bike rides. MICHELLE MULDER
My daughter loves shouting “Free pile!” from her seat on our bicycle. Where we live in Victoria, British Columbia, people often leave unwanted items on the side of the road with a sign saying Free. Maia and I screech to a stop and hop down to investigate. So far, her favorite find has been a big teddy bear in perfect condition, but we’ve taken home everything from plates to plants to furniture.