Waste not, want not

He said: "The aim of Freegans is to get the best use of resources. I think it is possible to feed hundreds of thousands of people on the food that gets wasted each year."

Supermarkets and take-away outlets can offer a banquet to a Freegan. That does not mean they are welcome to help themselves.

Alf said: "Some store managers turn a blind eye to Freegan activity, and others, within the same retail family, are vehemently opposed. Occasionally we even meet a store worker who actively encourages people to make use of what is thrown out."

Best before dates and strict shelf lives produce a surplus of stock.

Alf said: "Items of food do not go past their 'sell by' date just because it says so on the packet. Many Freegans, including myself, boast that they rarely, if ever, get sick from eating food out of dumpsters."

So what is stopping everyone helping themselves to food deemed past its best by retailers?

Alf said: "There is a legal threat relating to dumpster diving on private property. I don't know of anyone who has been prosecuted successfully for having rescued food that has been chucked out by a supermarket but that is not to say that it hasn't happened, or indeed won't happen in future."

Trespassing on private property is a civil offence so a Freegan could be sued but there is also a chance of police prosecution under the Theft Act of 1968 for removing items from bins.

Go to freegans.org.uk