I’ve often said that living with less can be a good thing. Reduce, reuse, recycle. I use metal water bottles over and over again; I reuse my kitchen trash in the compost bin in my garden; and I make my own paper with scrap paper from the mailbox and other waste that would generally go into the landfill.

The story I’m about to tell you, frankly, is something I would not try, but this is one man’s experiment into the darkest depths of cutting back.

Below is a photo of a dumpster. We’ve all seen them. But, can you imagine living in one? (Not only no, but h— no, was my initial response). Read on.

A college professor named Jeff Wilson lived in a dumpster for a year. It was located on the campus of the Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, where he teaches.

Wilson, an environmental studies professor, wanted to prove one could live happily and in health in a very small space. After all, millions of people around the world live in a lot less space than we are used to. So he set about finding a new home in a dumpster. The dumpster he chose had 33 square feet of living space. The average American home has about 2,500 square feet.

Having lots of collections from the many countries I have visited, and a collection of Venetian and Czech glass, I find it difficult to imagine living in 33 square feet. But Wilson managed to do it in comfort for a year. He had an air conditioner, a shower, toilet, kitchen, wi-fi and even solar power.

The professor said he wanted to be the ultimate “one-percenter.” His goal was to create only 1 percent of the waste that is created in the average home, and use 1 percent of the energy and water we all do.

“Professor Dumpster,” as he was lovingly called, spent his days teaching environmental science, and in the dumpster, he was testing sustainable technologies and low-waste living.

Students had a lot to say about him living in a trash bin, including the possibility of homeless people finding shelter in a trash-can village. They began to think in terms of a minimalist. They donated time and skills to the project, and cut out things like cars, which cause pollution, and in some students’ minds were completely unnecessary. Everything they needed was within walking distance of the university. The Dumpster Project began giving tours of dumpster homes to encourage more people to take the plunge into dumpster living.

The question for the future is: How can we equip upcoming generations with the tools they need to have a sustainable lifestyle? One answer is with a 33-square-foot dumpster and a team of dumpster experts to transform a trash container into a sustainable house.

I wonder how many people could actually do this, unless it were necessary?

Dr. Karen Magid, known as Doctor Basura (“trash” in Spanish), is the project manager for the dumpster project at the university. Dr. Amanda Masino, aka The Dirt-y Professor, is the head of the Green is the New Black student group and an assistant professor of biology. She also works on the dumpster project. She is working on a dumpster science lab.

Dr. Jeff Wilson, aka Professor Dumpster, lived in the dumpster for a year, proving it is possible to be happy and healthy in less space.

OK, readers … who’s going to try this next? If this isn’t for you, you might like to nominate your favorite teacher. The Dumpster Project is currently taking nominations.

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel is executive director of the Community Hiking Club and president of the Santa Clara River Watershed Conservancy. If you’d like to be part of the solution, join the Community Hiking Club’s Stewardship Committee. Contact Dianne through communityhikingclub.org or at zuliebear@aol.com.