Trash and Treasure - Reading Response #3

Lars Eighner’s, memoir On Dumpster Diving (1991, Threepenney Review), recounts that he was able to sustain himself while homeless through “Dumpster diving.” Eighner, tells through personal experience how, being reluctant at first, he learned to feed, clothe and make a profit of sorts through the act of “diving” or going through local Dumpsters while homeless, sustaining himself and his canine companion, Lisbeth. Eighner is telling the story of his own success, if you will, with scavenging through someone else’s discards while also providing the reader with basic instructions in the “art” of Dumpster diving. The memoir was written to those curious about the homeless and how they obtain their basic needs and to clear some misconceptions about the homeless population.

One thing in particular I found enjoyable in the essay, which can be found on page 514 of our text, Convergences, was the ideal this homeless man had about work. The author writes, on page 524, “Yet in spite of the element of change, scavenging more than most other pursuits tends to yield returns in some proportion to the effort and intelligence brought to bear.” He also states, on page 525, “I find work that rewards initiative and effort refreshing.” This type of ideal is opposite of the work ethic many practice today. It seems we are caught up with the idea we are owed something or entitled to a benefit we did not work for. This ideal coming from the author, a homeless man, is thought provoking and well worth discussion.

I have never had, out of need or desire, to pick through the dumpster for my daily bread. I have, for adventure and practicality, picked up treasure placed at the roadside or discarded in someone’s trash. I also enjoy leaving my unwanted items at the roadside with a large “free” sign. I leave the items there for a few days before donating them to the community resale shop, The Salvation Army or discarding them. People love stuff and will pick up just about anything I leave out.

Eighner’s essay was informative as well as thought provoking. It beckons us to think about our work ethics as well as how we think about the homeless and the things we view as trash.