Dumpster Diving

 Dumpster diver Tyler Markham approaches a common haunt.

 Markham climbs into a dumpster to retrieve food.

 Vegetables fill the inside of a dumpster behind Central Market.

 Tyler climbs out of a dumpster, backpack full of food.

 Tyler washes the fruit he's found throughout the night.

The fruit lies washed and drying on Tyler's countertop.

            To Tyler Markham, a lot of groceries come free of charge.

            Markham has been dumpster diving in Austin for the past two years. He has several dumpsters he dives in, namely Fresh Plus, Einstein’s Bros. Bagel’s and Central Market to retrieve food thrown out that is still edible.

            “I dumpster dive because it is a fun, cheap way to get really good food,” Markham said. “It is like taking the broke college student ethos to a new level. I also think it is absurd that nearly perfect food is regularly thrown out because stores are too lazy to go through the process of donating their food.”

            According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, approximately forty percent of all food produced in the United States is thrown away.

            “Sure, grocery stores will tell you they donate to food banks and such,” Markham said. “But they usually mean that they give dented cans or dry goods. I sneak around and get some of that waste and try to educate people about what goes on behind the grocery stores. It's a shame that stores regularly waste so much food when it could, with a little effort, be donated or even sold at reduced prices.”

            Companies throwing away food undermine the sense of community Markham said.

            “I really hope that as more people become aware of the scandalous amount of waste in our society they start to hold companies accountable and convince them to be better stewards of the community's resources,” Markham said.