Dumpster Diving Essay

Scavenging For Material Rewards and Things of Happiness

Materialistic people, whether wealthy or not, can never have enough material belongings to fill avoid within themselves. And yet, they waste much of what they purchase and do not see wastefulness as a problem. Today the purchase of unnecessary material goods has increased and wastefulness has also increased. Dumpsters are full of consumer’s unwanted possessions that will eventually be replaced with more binge purchases. Do these things really make consumers happy and if so, at what price; their health and happiness. Consumers could be happier if they stay focused on the most important items needed to survive in their day-to-day lives.

In his article, “On Dumpster Diving,” Lars Eighner,

writes a how-to guide on dumpster diving by relaying what he observes, learns, and practices while homeless. In addition, he suggests there is a relationship between things and happiness when he describes the items he finds in dumpsters. In “The High Price of Materialism,” Tim Kasser’s scientific studies suggest that people cannot ignore the fact that material possessions do not create a lasting happiness or well-being. In fact, just the opposite, it seems to suggest a strong relationship to low self-esteem, depression, and unhappiness. These two articles are interconnected by people who can never have enough material things and the waste they unknowingly create with all their purchases to the benefit of the homeless.
Eighner witnesses much waste being a homeless person and survives using other people’s waste. Also, he tries to distinguish what is good, bad, and otherwise just useless. He attempts to find the good in everything he comes across but that is not always possible because most food items have a short life and personal items may be too large or unnecessary for his homeless situation. Eighner states:
I was shocked to realize that some things are not worth acquiring, but now I think it is so. Some material things are white elephants that eat up the possessor’s substance. The second lesson is the transience of material being. This has not quite converted me to a dualist, but it has made some headway in that direction. I do not suppose that ideas are immortal, but certainly mental things are longer lived than other material things. (489)
He realizes that everyone puts a different value on items and finds it hard to believe what some people will throw out and what others will keep. The truth is that some material possessions are very large, expensive, and can be difficult to dispose of. Material items are temporary and can be replaced whereas memories are lasting and will always be with us.
Kasser and his colleagues have been studying the materialistic lifestyle and what people value in their lives.

Kasser argues, “Indeed, what stands out across the studies is a simple fact: people who strongly value the pursuit of wealth and possession report lower psychological well-being than those who are less concerned with such aims” (494). Consumers let material things control many aspects of their lives without a second thought. Furthermore, they need things to make them feel better, whether it is because of loneliness or some other reason. Some people see having more material things as a way of fitting in with society and thinking that money and things give people status. Materialistic people often do this at the expense of their health and family. Materialistic values can originate from early insecurities or childhood trauma. Accruing more things is only a temporary fix to the root of the

problem.
Both authors suggest that things cannot buy health and happiness and their articles are both in search of something similar but with different outcomes. Lars Eighner is in search of survival food and supplies and he is happy with his search. Besides, he is doing this on his own terms and time and seems to be comfortable with the scavenging lifestyle. The items most often found are the ones that have been discarded by materialistic people and wasteful college students. Kasser’s article also speaks of people who search for happiness by buying things that are not necessities. These items can be anything from less expensive to high priced items and paid for with cash or financed with credit cards or loans. Also, his studies reveal the initial happiness of buying something, anything until the bills come due. This causes materialistic people much stress often affecting their mental health and happiness. Often they discard these items and move on to the next new thing and create a constant cycle of acquisition and rejection.
Generally, people do not need many of the material items they have accumulated over time and their extravagant buying can send their spending out of control.

Just because someone wants something doesn’t necessarily mean they need it. In his article, “The Joy of Less,” Josh Sanburn argues, “It would be one thing if all our possessions were making us happier, but the opposite seems to be occurring [and] one study shows that a home with too much stuff can actually lead to higher levels of anxiety” (Time 46). Sanburn also cites UCLA anthropologist Elinor Ochs, who led a decade-long study on hyperacquisition when she says, “These objects that we bring in the house are not inert. They have consequences” (Time 46). Considering this, it’s hard to understand why people would allow material items to control their lives, especially when it can lead to unhappiness and health issues. Unfortunately, people who are materialistic do not think there is a problem. Given this information, one would think that they would try to figure out why this out of control obsession to own things and spend money is happening and to seek the help needed to work toward making changes in their

lives.
Lars Eigner is homeless, but happy because he finds his scavenging rewarding. Furthermore, he is excited when he finds the necessary items needed to survive for himself and his dog, Lizbeth, in their daily lives. When he is scavenging for items he personally only takes the essentials. He suggests that some dumpster divers can show materialistic tendencies while scavenging when he states, “Most divers come to realize that they must restrict themselves to items of relatively immediate utility. But in some cases the diver simply cannot control himself. Their ideas of the values of various pieces of junk verge on the psychotic” (484). Material items are strictly physical things. There is seldom a connection with these items and what is absolutely usable in everyday life. What is not necessary can be left behind or traded. But sometimes people who acquire all this stuff do not see it that way. In a sense, they see material things as a replacement for something or someone missing from their lives.
As a result, materialism cuts through all socio-economic lives. Anyone is susceptible to overbuying and discarding previous purchases just to have new things. It can be a vicious cycle with drastic consequences. Many of your homeless can also be materialistic people who have lost everything in the past. They may be homeless, but still continue to live the materialistic lifestyle by surviving off other people’s discards. This is done through scavenging instead of using cash or credit. They have not changed their materialistic ways, but are forced to continue them due to change in their circumstances. (Word count: 1)