While for most of us the greatest environmental sacrifice we’ll make is haphazardly carrying all our groceries rather than forking out for a new plastic bag, Dr Jeff Wilson is taking things a little further.
Working with a group of students in a Texas university, Wilson is living inside a converted dumpster for a year.
The aim of the Dumpster Project is to see how well sustainable living practices can help answer some of the questions about how an ever-increasing population can cope with less and less space and fewer resources to share.
His living quarters are small at just three square meters, a tight squeeze compared to the US average of 232m2.
Wilson wants to encourage conversation about how we can scale back and do more with less, though doesn’t go so far as to recommend society at large empties our bins and shack up in the space.
A number of modifications have been made to the dumpster prior to the doctor moving in, and the changes are ongoing now that he’s settled in. It was thoroughly cleaned and rust-proofed, it was insulated for warmth, and a clothes line and rain garden were installed.
Jeff relaxing in his new dumpster diggs (Image: Dumpster Project)
Additionally, solar panels were attached to generate power, a high-efficiency toilet was installed, and air conditioning. The handles have been sealed so that waste-disposal trucks don’t mistake his dumpster abode for the genuine article and attempt to empty the rubbish inside.
Wilson’s new home is located on the university campus where he teaches in Austin. He moved in on February 4th, and plans to remain there until the same day next year.
You can see a short video documenting his first six months in the dumpster here:
