Freegans take recycling to an extreme

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - They're called "freegans," and they're taking recycling to the extreme.

You may have heard of vegans, who take vegetarianism to an extreme. Freegans take getting free stuff to an extreme, and yes even their food comes from dumpsters.

"It's like a big hippie hole over there," said Rich Bailey, the freegans' neighbor.

Some neighbors see them as hippies, but they'd rather be known as freegans.

"We have a strong 'do it yourself' ethic. That is the anthem and the alibi of our culture," said Darwin, a freegan.

They try to get everything for free, including their food.

Darwin said, "A few of my favorite spots are dumpsters. I don't wanna say where, 'cause that's my dinner."

A freegan named Tim said, "I've gotten sick from it maybe twice in my whole life, but I've been eating food that other people have qualified as garbage for eight years now."

But there's a method to their madness. They actually own a huge west side home. It was originally built by the founder of Crystal Beach, and when it became vacant they squatted in it for two years, made some repairs, went to housing court and got the bank to relieve the liens on the property.

They essentially got the home for free.

"They're nice, they're friendly, but boy that house is just a mess and they need to get it cleaned up over there," said Bailey.

But in the three years since they've owned it, they haven't been cited for any housing violations.

Darwin said, "In fact, some of our neighbors have found it easier to get homeowners' insurance ever since we kicked the hookers and the dope fiens off the block. Get some homeowners insurance."

"Six people live here officially," said Tim. "And during the summertime, our population can swell to 15 people spending the night."

The transient guests often hit the road in the morning.

They repair their house with whatever they can find including manila envelopes for wallpaper. They grow what they can in a garden. They have running water and electricity, but heat with wood. The October Storm supplied them with two years worth of free firewood.

And of course the bikes. "Bikes. I love bikes," Tim said.

They work-trade bikes.

"We invite kids from the neighborhood who'll help out with cleaning up or help out with stuff going on around the house. We give them a summer-long warranty," Tim explained. "Where your bike will be fixed all summer."

They barter. Tim traded a multi-purpose tool for a motorcycle. He traded 50 hours of work for a pick-up truck.

Tim said, "We've made it where we don't necessarily need to get standard jobs. I wouldn't say I'm opposed to it, what I'm opposed to is feeding back into a money economy that doesn't really fulfill me."

"The truth of it is, in a world like this, if you can't live free at least you can live cheap, and if we all do that together, it's cheaper and cheaper everyday," said Tim.

It is estimated that Americans consume two to three times as much stuff as people in Europe with similar lifestyles. These guys and gals are just trying to live off of waste.

Are they only in Buffalo?

It didn't start in Buffalo and on the web you can find entries from people in New York and California, but the Buffalo group is pretty well organized, and although we didn't want to give their exact location on the west side, if you see it, you'll know you've found the place.