So, today I was out and about and one of the chores I needed to do was find some sturdy boxes to store some stuff in. As I pulled into Aldi's I could see some banana boxes sticking out. Yeah! My lucky day! I could kill 2 birds with one trip. Went to pull the boxes out of the dumpster, and lo and behold, the boxes were full of slightly brown bananas. Now I am not opposed to picking certain things out of the dumpster, but I could not get myself to pull any food out of the thing. My mother said I should have brought some of the bananas home, as there wasn't anything wrong with them (and from what I could see, there wasn't, except for some brown spots, and they weren't that bad). So, give me feedback, would you have salvaged some of the bananas?:confused:

I dont think I would have. I would be concerned about chemicals and things also being tossed in the dumpster. I know the peel protects the bananna but I would be worried that something could penetrate it. I am just too chicken!!

I would absolutly not get food out of a dumpster.....

No, I would be too worried taking food from a dumpster.

I don't think I would, either. Definitely not produce for sure.

Nope, absolutely no way would I take food from a dumpster...

The ick factor is just too high on that one. no, I wou;dn't have either.

No, I wouldn't want to take a chance in getting my family or myself sick.

Glad to hear others feel the same way I do on this one, but it bothers me that Aldi's has never heard of Second Harvest. Perhaps they should have donated before throwing away. Thanks for the imput. Dorie

It bothers me to see places throwing good stuff away. When my dh worked for Pizza Hut, they would have extra dough and they were supposed to throw it out.. but my hubby and his co-workers made them into pizzas late at night and donated them to the local feeding program. When the pizzas were ready, the director of the program would come pick them up and feed them to the needy the next day, reheated.

I would have gotten them and passed them out to my friends (the part I couldn't use).

I definitely have and will continue to do so!

Let's see, 2 bushels of green beans, one bushel of bananas, several bushels of cantelopes, apples, tangerines (several 3 lb bags of the expensive minis), two pineapples, apples, potatoes, strawberries, grapes, lettuce, cabbage, corn on the cob...tomatoes...cukes...

About the only thing I haven't eaten out of the dumpster has been processed food. Produce which the stores cannont sell go into the dumpster. Most stores, even if they have a marked down produce section do not want to continue offering huge amounts of marked down produce because then there will be a lot less buyers for the fresh higher priced produce.

I canned some wonderful blackberry grape jelly out of the grapes that were in the dumpster. And my neighbors and freinds love it and they know where I got the grapes.

Of course there are some people who are really afraid of anybody finding out where they got their stuff and I say goody, that leaves more for people who really need it.

And for those of you who are afraid of being poisoned....:laugh: If you are squeemish about that? Don't ever buy any produce from a grocery store. If you knew what that produce went through when it was being packed you'd be afraid to eat it.

I worked at a packing company in FL and I couldn't eat carrots for a long, long time...and then I thought hey, I cook them and eat them and I wash them before I cook them, anything that survives that will either help me or kill me.

I think there are people who have allowed the media to make them paranoid about germs. I quit using anti-bacterial soaps and now I don't get sick. My immune system has been built back up. All I do is take some vitamin C tablets and don't worry about the germs.

The last bug I caught was knocking everybody down for several months and mine lasted about a week. That was a couple of years ago. A few germs are good for a body.

Funny story...

Way back in 1986 when we were moving and looking for boxes, we drove to King Soopers in Colorado late the night before packing. While throwing produce boxes in the back of the truck, I spotted a huge celophane wrapped box of assorted maple bars and donuts that were placed along side of the dumpster with wilted lettuce and other perishable foods.

I was so upset at the waste of these donuts that I asked my husband to drive me over to the railroad tracks to place the box on the picnic table for the homeless who slept nearby.

Early the next morning, while we were moving to our new location, we drove by to see if the donuts had been taken and were very surprised to see 3 well dressed men in suits holding clipboards and writing down the contents of the box.

I'm guessing that they may have thought the food that had been placed there, was poisoned??? :carrot:

Patches I am with you! I would have raided that sucker! lol
I got over 50 pounds of cheeses from a Kroger dumpster. I canned 40 quarts of sour kraut too. My sister in law works in a Kroger bakery and she says that they throw stuff out just to throw it out. The have more than enought to stock and then just toss the rest.
Smile
Lisa

My mother (a child of the depression) told me that when I was still living at home, many, many years ago, she and my dad would go to one of the local stores and go into the dumpster. According to her, this particular store would put the old produce, usually still wrapped, right on the top, kinda to encourage those who needed (or wanted) it to take it. Perhaps that is why she said I should have gotten some 'nanas. I also saw potatoes in there, but not as numerous. I have never taken food out of a dumpster, but, have taken other useful items. <P> My youngest son has confessed to removing single serving bags of chips from a dumpster when he was about 16 and sharing with all his friends. I said yuck, but he said ," hey they were still sealed and besides they were free." I don't know if it is my frugality, his lack of cash or just the urge to live dangerously that made him do it. He also confessed to waiting for Dunkin' Donuts to close and raiding their dumpster. He said they usually put the leftover donuts in a plastic bag before putting them out. Still, its not the thought of germs, but the thought of what else may have been eating out of the leftovers. I suppose if you know that they havn't been there very long....

My children and I would have to be starving first.

Originally posted by pkellyc
My children and I would have to be starving first.
Yeah, me, too. Too much of an 'ick' factor, I guess.

Ah well, to each his own!

I will tell you my latest dumpster finds!!!

about 15 peices of Partylite still in their original boxes, beautiful brass and lead crystal. Some collectible christmas ornaments, a bottle of Gesso (I paint), some paint, some candles, a new comforter with pillow shams, a new sleeping bag, a nice dust ruffle, a microwave, some jars of change, some more paint, some nice clothes for some toddlers which will go to a freind of mine, some nice ladies clothes but I don't have anybody that wears that small a size...

I went dumpster shopping the other day and must have gotten over $400 worth of free stuff. Brand new stuff!

There was a beautiful photo chest in there, still had all the bubble packing and stuff taped around it. I thought it was a jewelry box but it is for photos.

You ladies don't know the simple joys that you are missing.

Those kinds of dumpster finds I think are wonderful. It bothers me that we are such a wasteful nation. I believe that we could support another nation just on what we throw away. I would have picked that type of stuff out myself. But the thought of food still bothers me. <P>When I worked at Hancock Fabrics, we threw away patterns at the end of the season. The pattern company's didn't want them back, but didn't want them in circulation, either. They actually wanted us to dump water over the patterns after we put them in the dumpster, so nobody could salvage them. We never did, though. We had a gentleman's agreement with them that we would not take them home. I believe some of us lived up to it, and others didn't. Also the Leisure Arts books, some were sent back to the company and others were dumpstered. Some of the reps let us keep them, others preferred we destroy them. I really hate that type of waste. Why not just do mark downs and sell them?:confused: Or donate? It drives me nuts!:bang:

Ah, it's all based on greed. If they can't have it (the money) they sure don't want anybody else to share the wealth.

Oh! I almost forgot! I woke up and hubby had gone dumpster diving brought me home a 1/2 bushel box of plum tomatoes! Nice big 3-4 inch long ripe red tomatoes!

I'm going to do some canning tonight. :D

Patches you are a woman after my own heart! You have gotten some great stuff! The dumpsters here are getting slim. To many people doing it I guess.

Originally posted by kymom
Patches you are a woman after my own heart! You have gotten some great stuff! The dumpsters here are getting slim. To many people doing it I guess.

Have you tried prayer? LOL! I know that sounds funny but if I need something, part of my frugal regimen is to pray and dive.

God always provides what I need and if it isn't where I usually go to get it, He sends me in the right direction.

I get better stuff out of dumpsters than I was able to afford when I was making $700 a week take home.

There's a passage about God using the base things to confound the wise. I reckon a lot of people consider diving as a base activity but I don't have to go out and spend money I don't have on stuff, all I do is pray and God provides. I go pick it up.

Best idea yet, patches! I think prayer should be the first thing we do in every circumstance.

I personally couldn't eat food from a dumpster unless I was literally living on the streets. Dumpster diving for other things, though, sounds fine to me--- I just wish there were some around here without security fences/cameras so I could try it! ;)

If you aren't doing anything illegal, like picking through people's mail...nobody is going to say anything to you. UNLESS, you are one of those people who dump stuff all over the ground because you are messy. I've seen people like that and they give divers a bad name.

There's a whole crew of us in our town. It took awhile to find out who they were but we share our finds with each other too.

Hubby got a whole bag full of flannel shirts the other night. I got some brand new shoes with tags still on them (It's hard for me to find comfortable shoes at all because I wear 10 WW).

Got a nice overcoat for a freind and some more childrens clothes. We are giving a lot of stuff away...better that than in a land fill.

I love to read dumpster diving stories. We live in a very small town and I've said it before.....Gripey would DIE completely off if he thought anyone might see me digging in a dumpster. If we lived in a city near a college though....I'd definetly do the move out day diving......I have dreams of that .... :lol:

My hubby went dumpster diving today and found a scuffed but usable antique leather and wood desk chair, as well as a nearly new light green and white girl's office chair. Both of these things will come in handy because we were using a resin chair for a computer chair, and youngest DH has a desk but no chair.

cool! ain't diving great?

I see nothing wrong with it. You can wash the bananas. I'm sure if you saw how the pesticides are put on most food we americans buy, or the chemicals squirted into all our processed food we eat, that might make you squeamish too. Throwing it in a big metal box isn't going to change anything. Waste makes me sick!
My dad , when he was in Medical school, was very poor, and he would often eat out of the trash cans, he said the Dr's would just throw almost whole sandwhiches away, and when you're hungry, well.......haha
I don't know if I would recommend that, but food that is unspoiled, unopened ect, I fail to see a problem with it.

I think I would. My dad dumpster dives at the grocery next to the optical he works at. I think my mom is embarrassed about it, but I don't think it's that shameful. We live in a very wasteful society.

I work at Bath and Body works, and you would not believe the amount of stuff that we destroy instead of donating it to a woman's shelter or something. If something doesn't look perfect, or if we just don't carry it anymore, or if someone returned it and maybe ripped a sticker off, we destroy it. This stuff isn't perishable, or consumable, it's just bath and body items. I really hate throwing it away. Sometimes I hope that someone will take these items from the dumpster, but I highly doubt they do.

I dont think I would have either, fruit in the garbage with all that other stuff would be a no-no to me.

Here's some Info: http://www.wikihow.com/Dumpster-Dive

I have gotten peppers several times from Aldis. They are packed in cellophane and completely wrapped and come in a package of 3. Usually they pitch them if one is slightly going bad. I have no problem with it. I throw the bad one out and saute the rest.

I dont think I would have either, fruit in the garbage with all that other stuff would be a no-no to me.

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

Hmm...I'm straddling the fence on this one. I don't know. I guess I'd have to be there. I'v only been dumpster diving once. I went with a friend, years ago, who always went looking for labels and register tapes to do refunding. She had a pair of overalls, rubber gloves, a hat, and a mission. She actually proceeded like a pro. I wonder what it would be like to go to a fancy shmancy place and try this.

The Aldi's I used to shop at used to give that sort of stuff away free with any purchase. As much as you wanted. One time I got 6 packs of multicolored peppers, another time frozen sausage and once 10 loaves of wheat bread. The one I shop at now marks it down quite a bit unless it is just too spoiled.

I used to manage a chain pizza place, and we were not allowed to give the leftovers to the homeless or to shelters. Someone in the fast food industry got sued for food poisoning. The shelters wouldn't even take them because of that even if we could give them away. Needless to say, Dh and I and all our friends ate a LOT of pizza in those days.

I would and do dumpster dive. Last year we were able to mulch our whole garden for free (broken bags of mulch). We also got bags of grass seed, manure, peat moss and packettes seeds. When Dh used to work at the college, we got book cases, office chairs, potted plants and other stuff when the college kids moved out. I have gotten cross stitch supplies, art supplies, kid's books and other stuff from dumpsters. I would take food if it was not expired or rotten. Why not? I am with so many of you, there is so much waste it is shameful.

I would not do this, but more power to those of you that do. I find it sad that grocery stores still put usable produce and other good food items in dumpsters, when Second Harvest or most soup kitchens would gladly take the stuff from them.

I love that this topic was bumped back up! :lol:

I didn't realize that there were ddivers here in the village! :D

hmmm.... maybe we should start a whole new thread on diving? :D

where are all the freegans when we need them. This thread has freeganism written all over it.

oh and for crying out loud don't read the wiki on dumpster diving. if you dont know how to do it. then reading about it is not going to teach you. Just stay out of the dumpster before you ruin it for the serious divers..

I don't think I would take fruit or food from a dumpster.

Honestly I'm not sure about what I'd do with the food. Probably it would depend on a lot of different things such as need, placement, packageing, ect. That said dad had gotten into diving for awhile. He had some good stops on Long Island where factories would dump seconds. He'd yardsale and get some pretty good money for the stuff. I've went with him a few times after he relocated but the stores/factories here don't seem to pitch as much.

I think I would. My dad dumpster dives at the grocery next to the optical he works at. I think my mom is embarrassed about it, but I don't think it's that shameful. We live in a very wasteful society.

I work at Bath and Body works, and you would not believe the amount of stuff that we destroy instead of donating it to a woman's shelter or something. If something doesn't look perfect, or if we just don't carry it anymore, or if someone returned it and maybe ripped a sticker off, we destroy it. This stuff isn't perishable, or consumable, it's just bath and body items. I really hate throwing it away. Sometimes I hope that someone will take these items from the dumpster, but I highly doubt they do.

Really? Theres a Bath and Body works in my town. I'm going to have to start checking out their dumpsters.

I know a lady who is on ssi and she goes to her local grocery stores and tells them could I please take your food you are going to dump and give it to my kids pet rodents?? they do give it to here whatever she can handle and this is before it hits the dumpster...she has no rodents...:yoyo: what ever works..She has gotton alot of friut and vegies,bread,bagels,donuts etc..She passes them out to her friends and family that are struggling $. I have no problem with certain things in the dumpster..

I would have gotten them, but used them for compost.

I would have to have been there. Seen how far down the dumpster they were. That being said I would prob. be to scared to go dumpster diving. Last time I moved we need boxes and I was scared of being yelled at just for the cardboard.LOL

katy

oh and for crying out loud don't read the wiki on dumpster diving. if you dont know how to do it. then reading about it is not going to teach you. Just stay out of the dumpster before you ruin it for the serious divers..

everyone is a newbie at some point - we all have to try something new, otherwise - life wouldn't be much fun :D

I actually learned a lot from a dumpster diving forum when I first went out :animated:

I would have taken them. They had skins on them and you could bake them and destroy anything you are worried about. I think that people now a days are germaphobes. Either that or they're worried what people will say. I have never actually dumpster dived, but I've trash picked. I've gotten so many things for my house and also to give away to friends and thrift stores. A lot of people are just too lazy to call a thrift store to come pick it up. so it all goes to waste in a landfill! Pitiful!! I have gotten toys, furniture (my favorite is a glass topped patio table), an ironing board, Christmas tree, Christmas tree skirt, Christmas wrapping paper-not all from the same site either! (lots of great Christmas stuff after the holidays-people are too lazy to pack it away), baby furniture and accessories (walkers, bassinettes, car seats, strollers). I didn't know some of the stores mentioned on this site threw so many awesome things away. I may have to find someone to go with me and dumpster dive at the mentioned stores!

Hmmm. I'm pretty pro-diving, but I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with unsealed food items. Too many years of Halloween horror storieas about things people put in food. Definitly go for boxes, clothing, objects (not necessarily d'art), and BOOKS (my personal fav!)

Dumpsters in FL either have to be locked of those closed things that you feed into from the inside of the store. It's because of people digging in dumpsters, and getting sick off of the food inside. Actually, the law was passed because of a homeless man who was sleeping in one when it got picked up, and he almost got crushed!

So no dumpster diving here! No places I know of anymore to get leftover produce either. I'm so sad!

Fresh foods, NO WAY! I'd even have a hard time picking boxed items out..I'm just toooo much of a hygiene person. I'm weird like that..:rollsmile

I would have left the boxes and the bananas there. I would be concerned as well that maybe something had been spilled on them.

I wouldn't take food but have taken a baby bouncer before, though it was put next to the dumpster, lol. DH won't have anything from a dumpster in our home, if he did I'd take some of the furniture I see people throwing out and refinish them. Oh well...

I would not eat food from a dumpster- rodents, insects and contamination abound in them.I do not pull things from dumpsters.

i wouldnt have :dazed:

What's funny is that I haven't visited this site in about a year and the day that I decide to visit again, my thread has been bumped up to the top! Life's funny that way! I still think about those bananas every time I am at Aldi's. Still seems like such a waste. I couldn't get myself to pick food from the dumpster, but if they had offered them at a reduced price in the store I probably would have bought some to bake with. Heck, I've got 2 nasty looking ones frozen away right now waiting to become something good. Apparently our Aldi's is still throwing out good stuff, though as I have seen on at least one occasion a car pull up to the dumpster and its people rummage through for food items. Maybe they were going to eat it, maybe not. Not for me to ask.