How do you feel about Dumpster Diving ?
I just read a wonderful book on essays from people who do extreme recycling and dumpster diving.
So here is my question: have you ever taken anything out of a dumpster? How would you feel if you got ‘caught’?
I will start: sometimes I grab recyclables from dumpsters and recycle them. Like if a ton of cardboard boxes are in there, or a bag of cans. Usually there is a recycling bin right there and all I have to do is take a second to move things a bit.
Sometimes I see actual goodies in there, which makes me feel confused. Like once I saw FOUR whole unopened bags of Wee Wee pads. Those things, for dogs, are not cheap. I looked around to see if anyone saw me and reached in and grabbed two of them. I figured I would grab the other two as I walked by next time, since i needed a stick to grab those.
Unfortunately, when I came back the other two bags were totally buried by a whole dump load of landscape waste. I still feel badly about this. If I had not let me pride get ahead of me I would have had two more bags of expensive wee wee pads, and also kept something useful out of the waste stream.
It is much easier to take things when people kindly leave them outside the dumpster (like RV lawn chairs - I have gotten about six really nice ones that way and many other useful things). But I feel embarrassed to actually reach in and root around.
I don’t want to have to feel that way. I want to feel pleased to be helping the planet. Yet there is a stigma.
What do others do when you see nice things in and around dumpsters?
Filed under Frugal Living, Self-Reliance, green living |15 Responses to “How do you feel about Dumpster Diving ?”
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I admit to having a wonderful dumpster-diving addiction. I have found all sorts of things, even a kitten in a bag (it was ok). People look at me strangely but they are the ones losing out on free stuff.
There have been several shows on HGTV devoted to dumpster diving, but I’m sure if you don’t have a film crew following you around and people see you diving most will give you that ‘I can’t believe you’re doing that’ look. Personally, I’ve done a lot of diving but I tried to keep it private simply because where I lived had a law against removing anything from the curb although residents knowingly put things in front of their homes with the hopes of someone picking it up. I’m not sure if this was an act of altruism or if they just didn’t want to bother with having to call a donation center.
I have not done it, but my friend’s husband makes regular cash from what he calls “garbage picking.” He finds salvageable stuff in people’s trash, fixes it up and sells it on Ebay. His notable picks were a jet ski and a bathroom sink.
No kidding…a jet ski…..that had to have been in Malibu:))
The only time I went “diving” was with Jill in a resort area in Calif. It was in front of an antique store and the pails were just filled with all sorts of goodies.. even antiques.. I think it was great fun and I don’t have any hangups about it.. If people want to throw away really good stuff, then why shouldn’t we have it??
If you live in a college town, visit residential areas nearby around the time school breaks for summer. A lot of students move out and there is a wealth of free stuff ripe for the picking. I’ve gotten everything from desks and bookshelves to actual electronics like old TVs.
As far as I’m concerned, if they throw it out, it’s fair game.
Sixpaws, you found a kitten in a bag? That’s awful. But good that you saved him. What is the story with that, what happened?
Ginger, it’s probably a mix of things - hoping that someone might want the stuff they leave out, so they get a ‘good home.’
You and I will do some superior diving when we get to Oklahoma!
Maria, I want to be just like your friend. I want to make a living like that too. It sounds like the essence of fun.
Mom, that was a fun time! I still have one of those things we found - a little Victorian vanity tray - by my bed here in the RV. I keep my little bedside stuff on it. This was an item that still has a tag on it, selling for $50!
Michelle, that is true - if it’s tossed, it’s fair game. I don’t know why scavenging is so looked down on. It’s a great way to keep waste out of the landfills and keep people from using up unnecessary virgin resources.
And for people living under the line financially, it’s a blessing! It’s altogether a good thing.
Man I got my desk out of the trash, and my desk chair, and my kitchen table, and my entertainment center. LOL Really most everything, except my bed I got from the trash.
My feeling is if it’s usable and not stinky, then I can keep it out of the landfill.
You go, Steph! I am impressed with your yankee ingenuity.
I am always so proud of myself when my entire outfit, sans underthings, are from Goodwill.
My mamma taught me well.
There’s a new show on the History Channel called “American Pickers”. Two guys go all over the country picking through junkyard and other oddball places for hidden treasures. Take a look….
http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers
Ginger! That sounds perfect for us! We will do that in Oklahoma.