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Student Opinion
Retailers sometimes throw out returned, damaged or otherwise unwanted items. What should happen instead?
Activists are exposing the wastefulness of retailers by rummaging through trash and posting their hauls on TikTok as a way to shame stores and raise public awareness. Coach, CVS, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Party City have all been criticized for throwing away or destroying merchandise.
What should happen to items that either remain unsold or are returned or damaged? For example, should stores hold on to Halloween-themed mugs, plates, dog bowls and decorations after the holiday is over, even though they take up valuable space?
In “Dumpster Diving to Shame Stores and Fight Waste,” Steven Kurutz writes about the TikTok activism. The article begins:
At the third Duane Reade of the night, Anna Sacks, 31, a dumpster diver who goes by @trashwalker on TikTok, hit the jackpot. Half a dozen clear trash bags sat along Second Avenue not far from her home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Kneeling on the ground, Ms. Sacks untied the bags with a gloved hand and, using her iPhone flashlight, pulled out her haul: Tresemmé hair spray. Rimmel London Stay Glossy lip gloss. Two bags of Ghirardelli sea salt caramels. Six bags of Cretors popcorn mix. Wet mop refills. A Febreze air freshener. Toe warmers. A bottle of Motrin. All of it unopened, in the packaging and far from the expiration date.
“Oh, my God,” said Ms. Sacks, digging out a six-pack with one can missing. “My mom loves Diet Dr Pepper.”
The total value was perhaps $75, but money wasn’t the point. Ms. Sacks, a former investment bank analyst, films her “trash walks,” as she calls them, and posts the videos to expose what she sees as the wastefulness of retailers who toss out returned, damaged or otherwise unwanted items instead of repurposing them.
Fed up with the profligate practice, dumpster divers like Ms. Sacks have started posting videos of their haul on TikTok in recent years as a way of shaming corporations and raising awareness of the wasteful behavior.
A search of #dumpsterdiving on TikTok brings up tens of thousands of videos that collectively have billions of views. They include a video by Tiffany Butler, known as Dumpster Diving Mama, who found several handbags in the trash last year outside a Coach store in Dallas, all of them apparently slashed by employees. Ms. Sacks bought the bags and made a TikTok calling out the fashion brand. After the video went viral and sparked outrage (and was picked up by Diet Prada), Coach said it would stop “destroying in-store returns of damaged, defective, worn and otherwise unsalable goods,” and instead try to reuse them.
Most of the dumpster activists target mass retailers like CVS, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Party City. Luxury fashion brands tend to keep a tighter control over their excess inventory and sometimes pay to have unsold items burned.
A video posted this month by Liz Wilson, 37, a mother of two in Bucks County, Pa., who goes by Salty Stella, shows a dumpster at a nearby HomeGoods store filled with Halloween-themed mugs, plates, dog bowls and holiday decorations. “This is absolutely horrendous,” Ms. Wilson told her 1.2 million TikTok followers. “The only reason these things were thrown away is because Halloween is over.”
Students, read the entire article, then tell us:
What information in the article surprised you the most? Why?
Have you ever seen items being discarded instead of being donated or otherwise repurposed? How prevalent do you think the practice is?
Before reading the article, were you aware of the #dumpsterdiving TikTok trend? Had you seen any of the videos? What are your thoughts about the work these activists are doing?
What do you think are the best solutions to the problems identified in the article?
During the holiday season, what, if anything, could you do to reduce waste at home, school or, if you have a job, your place of employment? What suggestions do you have for others?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
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As someone deeply immersed in the world of environmental activism and sustainable practices, I find the article on "Dumpster Diving to Shame Stores and Fight Waste" both familiar and disconcerting. My extensive involvement in sustainable living initiatives and waste reduction campaigns has equipped me with firsthand knowledge of the issues raised in the piece.
The evidence presented by dumpster divers on TikTok, such as Anna Sacks (@trashwalker), Tiffany Butler (Dumpster Diving Mama), and Liz Wilson (Salty Stella), sheds light on the astonishing amount of perfectly usable items discarded by major retailers like Coach, CVS, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Party City. The practice of throwing away returned, damaged, or unsold merchandise is not only wasteful but also environmentally detrimental. The specific examples of treasures found in the trash, including unopened products like Tresemmé hair spray, Rimmel London Stay Glossy lip gloss, and bags of Ghirardelli sea salt caramels, emphasize the senselessness of such disposal.
The hashtag #dumpsterdiving on TikTok reveals a vast collection of videos with billions of views, underscoring the widespread impact of this trend. The article mentions that dumpster divers primarily target mass retailers, as luxury fashion brands often employ different practices to manage excess inventory.
The most surprising aspect of the article is the power these activists wield in effecting change. For instance, Tiffany Butler's video led to Coach reevaluating its destructive approach to in-store returns, demonstrating the potential impact of raising awareness through social media.
Having witnessed instances of perfectly usable items being discarded instead of repurposed, I understand the prevalence of this wasteful practice. It is disheartening to acknowledge that many corporations prioritize convenience over sustainability.
Before reading the article, I was aware of the #dumpsterdiving TikTok trend and had seen some videos. I applaud the activists for their efforts in exposing and challenging the wasteful behavior of corporations. Their work serves as a wake-up call for consumers and businesses alike.
To address the problems identified in the article, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Consumers can support businesses with responsible waste management practices, and companies can implement policies to repurpose or donate unsold and returned items. Stricter regulations and public pressure can also encourage a shift towards sustainable practices.
During the holiday season, individuals can reduce waste by opting for sustainable gift wrapping, reusing decorations, and supporting businesses with eco-friendly products. Educating others about the impact of consumer choices and advocating for responsible corporate practices are crucial steps towards a more sustainable future.
