Scavenging Dumps for Survival
More Articles Related to Tips And TricksThe online Utne Reader magazine has an article on Scavenging for Survival. Many people throughout the world scavenge through other peoples trash in order to survive.
In the garbage dumps of the Philippines, Senegal and Brazil people of all ages, including homeless children of startlingly young ages obtain their food from what most of us consider dirty useless trash.
The garbage pickers of the world not only obtain their food from the trash they sort through. In the landfill dumps they find and recycle all the materials necessary to sustain life. The trash heaps supply materials to make shelter and clothing to protect themselves from the environment. From the garbage they create their tools. And among the mountainous piles of other peoples waste they form the bonds of community that help them survive, just as in any other community in the richer worlds you and I frequent.
Stocking the Shelves
The shear size and depth of many of our landfills insures a rich harvest for a long to time to come
Much of what the richer half of the world throws away is still in usable condition. We throw into landfills clothing items due to small stains or because they are no longer are in style or because they no longer fit us. Partially worn tools and still usable tires go into the heap, along with demolition debris from homes and business that are chock full of useful stuff for those who are inventive and creative.
Everything and anything that we use in our daily lives is thrown onto an ever increasing pile. As the garbage dumps grow to massive proportions the deeply buried material becomes protected from the outside elements and much of it is preserved in excellent condition for decades.
Mining the Landfills
Dump pickers have learned they can recycle plastics, metals, and chemical wastes. Books, furniture, appliances - you name it and there can be a market for it. In exchange for barter or money, other peoples waste products are transformed into a thriving market of useful items. In fact the government in Manila takes no interest in cleaning up its mess because it knows the scavengers will do it for them.
This stockpile of everything society casts off contains exactly those items the people in your area and environment have been using for generations
To the survival enthusiast one thing is clear: the people who make a living picking through other peoples trash are first class survival experts. They are out there doing it every day and have honed their craft to a fine edge.
Emergency Supplies Dwindle
In our lands of Milk and Honey we probably do not have to pick through other peoples trash to survive. Yet. But should a catastrophic disaster occur, your local dump may be just the place to go for all your shopping needs.
Think about it - when word gets out that your catastrophe of choice has or is about to occur (the missiles are launched, the asteroid is a few hours away, the aliens have landed, etc etc) a great panic will ensue. In short order the mob will have picked clean the grocery and hardware stores in about five minutes flat. The infrastructure society relies upon will likely collapse for some period of time and the basic supplies needed for survival will not be flowing into our towns and cities.
The dump cannot be easily emptied in a matter of minutes by desperate panicked hordes
And don't plan on relying upon nature for all your survival needs. Every squirrel, pigeon, rat, moose, bear, fish, carrot, potato, grain of rice, nut – everything from field, forest, and stream – will likely have been captured and eaten by a ravenous population accustomed to easily acquiring the necessities of life at the local store. Food, fuel, clothing, tools, spare parts, shelter materials, everything will be difficult, expensive, or impossible to obtain through normal channels due to unavailability or hording.
Scavenger Hunt
There is one great resource that has been continually growing for many years. An ever increasing storehouse of materials and survival supplies that in just such an emergency suddenly becomes a hoard of treasure beyond compare. Items that can no longer be obtained for any amount of money are available here. You will now be shopping at your local dump.
As todays dump scavengers in third world countries know, this stockpile of everything society casts off contains exactly those items the people in your area and environment have been using for generations.
For example, if you live in cold northern climates your local dump will contain such useful items for winter survival as winter clothing and boots. Wood from construction and property debris can be burned for heating, cooking, and making water safe to drink. Buried down inside the pile are likely to be canned food (be careful though) protected from freezing by the layers of debris above, seeds and sprouting vegetables for planting the garden you will be needing, cooking utensils, blankets, mattresses, insulation, shelter building materials, soap, and seeds. A treasure trove of materials. If you can't use it directly, use it for barter.
The beauty of scavenging landfills is that all the materials needed for survival and then some are in a state of preservation, buried under layer upon of layer of material often hundreds of feet deep. Unlike the local stores you are accustomed to shopping in, the dump cannot be easily emptied in a matter of minutes by desperate panicked hordes. It will take some work and time to dig down through the debris and collect the useful items buried within. The shear size and depth of many of our landfills insures a rich harvest for a long to time to come and this may very well be what saves the lives of many people and families as they wait and extended period of time for order to return to their lives.
So when you read about the dump pickers of third world countries, reflect upon the lives they are making for themselves and what they can teach us. The scavengers at the dumps are entrepreneurs and proven survivors. They have pride, community, and independence. They adapt. They endure. They survive. You can learn a lot from them.
New York
You are absolutely right. This is my favorite website!
atl, GA
Since I won't be able to thank you when the shtf i figured i'd better do so now. thanks. articles/thinking like this are the reason i keep coming back here.
northern United States
Scavenging is an excellent idea if, as in the situation up here, you have a cat or backhoe. The trash in this area is 'green compliant' and all garbage is compacted, covered with a 16-inch layer of dirt then another layer of trash and more dirt. All wood is separated, treated from non-treated, and 'chipped' for local energy consumption. The security at the sites won't allow scavenging. Even the metal pile has perfect condition bicycles in it and the red tape to 'recycle' one for personal use is enough to make a person not want it.
Spring and fall are two times of year scavengers can find heaps of wondrous items of use when the communities have 'spring cleaning' and people toss their unwanted items along the curb. For this area, that's the best time to find nearly anything. I found a fiberglass sailboat that way, just a 12 footer but serviceable for the Kid to play with.
Scavenging, after all, is in human DNA.
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Boston MA