If you think dumpster-diving is green (or maybe a bit crazy), here’s a new show that takes it to the extreme. Beginning tonight, Sunday September 2nd, the UK can tune in to Channel 4 for the latest eco-focused TV experiment, DUMPED. The new series leaves eleven unsuspecting volunteers to their own devices at one of Britain’s biggest landfill sites for three weeks. Their challenge? To survive off the rubbish the rest of us have thrown out.
The participants have willingly agreed to take part in a testing eco-challenge, though they don’t know where or any of the details. Most have assumed that they will be dropped into a pristine natural environment like the Amazonian Rain Forest or the Arctic. How will they react when they are delivered to a huge, smelly British landfill site where they are forced to make a home from other people’s waste? Channel 4 explains the inspiration for the show:
“…Brits are a nation of greedy consumers. Most of us have some idea that we waste too much and don’t recycle enough, but we tend not to think about what happens to our rubbish once it has left our homes. So, how will the volunteers cope when bought face to face with the sheer scale of the typical British landfill? Can they turn the grime and pong of 1000 tonnes of rubbish into a precious resource? Will they manage to eek out a living? Will they be surprised at the quality of life they can carve out of unwanted waste? And will their experience make them think about their own lifestyles? Watch Dumped to find out.”
+ Dumped
Really looking forward to this one I must admit. Just a shame it’s only three weeks – it’s taken the slot left by the now finished Big Brother 8 – I’d rather have dumped for three months and then three weeks of Big Brother, but hey…
this show would be a really good idea if you didn’t have to worry about the well-being of the contestants. that would make it a true experiment. instead the producers have already admitted to severe backstage tweaking of living conditions on the dump. it might be sinister but i want them to do it again without any help or intervention. read about problems with the show here: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=478598&in_page_id=1770
Very interesting programme. Has made me even more determined to re-cycle everything possible!
I’m amazed by what they’ve been achieved. Three weeks is not short time if we have to live in terrible environment. The programme shocks me by showing how much unnecessary waste we’re making everyday and reminds me the importance of recycle.
This show could of lasted longer and if they do it next time (which is unlikely) maybe it could be live replacing Big Brother.
Another review of Dumped here: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2007/09/dumped.html
Awesome! I know they could live fine out of dumpsters. I love dumpster diving. There are far too many communities where using another person waste is illegal. “No scavenging” reads the sign at a local dump. Why? Is the city worried about being sued for injuries? How about letting people sign a health and danger waver then?