We’ve discussed the importance of document destruction and document security, so you know that placing items in the rubbish bin can put your business or personal identity at risk. We know that dumpster diving, also known as skip dipping, is becoming more and more popular, which is one reason we are such strong advocates for shredding all of your documents. Our mobile shredding unit makes sure your documents are destroyed and are never in danger of being stolen.
However, most skip dippers are not identity thieves. Here’s an interesting story about why they may actually be digging through the rubbish.
Skip Dipping, Freeganism and Anti-Consumerism
Skip dipping was made popular partly by the “freeganism” movement, which began in the mid-90s, growing out of the anti-globalisation and environmentalist movements. Its main goal was to reclaim food that had been thrown away. Dumpster diving is one of the movement’s main practices, along with other less savoury activities, including theft and employee scams. The group wanted to be free of consumerism. While some of the their activities might be considered extreme, their ideas about ethical eating and reducing waste are worth thinking about.
People living in urban areas may sometimes forget how many resources it takes to grow and transport our food, and for skip dippers, taking food out of dumpsters is just one way to prevent waste. You might be surprised at the amount of fresh food that gets tossed in bins, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, baked goods, and cheese. All types of people are getting in on the action, including students, professionals, and families. The motivation of these skip dippers is to reduce their carbon footprint. This kind of skip dipping is also known as urban gleaning, which references the ancient practice of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields after the harvest.
Economically Driven Skip Dippers
Some people who participate in skip dipping today do so for idealogical reasons, but most do it for economic reasons. Finding food in the dumpster means a free meal or two, and aside from the profitability of successful identity theft, many homes and businesses throw away items that can be reused or sold, like clothing and furniture. The waste from construction projects and renovations can be valuable, too. If you are not a restaurant or right next to one, then it’s fair to say that the people digging through your skip aren’t looking for food. However, they may be looking for things of value to sell or reuse, and that may or may not include your confidential information.
If your business doesn’t throw anything that can be reused into the trash, then it’s less likely that skip dippers will invade your bin, but it’s more likely that if they do, their motives won’t be the best. We recommend you have us shred everything onsite and dispose of it for you, so that it never reaches your bin. Call today for a quote.
