Dumpster Diving/Trash Picking

**jettsmom** · 02-29-2008, 12:45 PM

Does anyone do this?

Last night we had to go to the store. We were putting our trash out.

We noticed that the neighbors were moving and were putting a lot of trash out during the day.

So last night, I glanced over and there was a perfectly good, 3 foot tall plastic storage drawers.

I ran over to check it out. Great condition. Took it and put it in the garage. I know we'll find a use for it soon.

Another neighbor moved a while back and there was a brand new tricycle in the trash. I grabbed it for my niece.

"One man's trash is another man's treasure".

**Izzy0906** · 02-29-2008, 12:51 PM

I don't really get out on trash day much to do this lol but see nothing wrong with it! I do craigslist and watch out for items on "curb alert" My ex father in law was a garbage man and ALWAYS bringing us home things! The only thing I denied and said heck no to was the cloth diapers... sure they looked washed but um USED!

**Marie78** · 02-29-2008, 02:11 PM

I have things in my home that were free out by the trash, but in like new condition. A bulletin board, full length mirror, bookshelf, lamps, lamp shade, books, boxes of things like pots for plants, cookie cutters, knick knacks, desk, and more I am sure that I am forgetting right now.

Most of our furniture was handed down to us over the years from family or close friends along with kitchen ware and clothes too. One man's trash can certainly be another man's treasure. I'm always looking for free things and seeing the use for those items.

**jkelstaten** · 02-29-2008, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Izzy0906

The only thing I denied and said heck no to was the cloth diapers... sure they looked washed but um USED!

Used cloth diapers are a great way to save money! We used a lot of them with DD#2 because we were trying to find out what kind we liked and didn't have a lot of money to spend. And of course, DD#3 is going to be using ones that DD#2 used. After washing well and using bleach it's no different than other baby clothes that get passed down and have been exposed to "diaper explosions".

To the OP, we love picking up good stuff that we see on the side of the road. We don't generally go out looking for stuff (I watch the freecycle site for our area, and my e-mail do the searching...lol), but if we see something nice and usable we'll pick it up.

**jenloveschip2001** · 02-29-2008, 02:55 PM

My husband and father in law had went to look for boxes to move with last year and they looked in the dumpster at the dollar store and found a brand new crockpot, dog food, a heater still in the box and a couple of clothes baskets that just had some chipped places in them.They asked if they had any boxes and they said to go look through the dumpster. I am still using the crockpot. It was still in the orignal packaging to . I can't believe that buisness send this perfectly good stuff to the land fill when they cound donate it to charity or give it to employees or something.

**BetterLateThanNever** · 02-29-2008, 03:08 PM

I Have picked a few things out of the trash but mainly to resell not to use. There is a guy in our neck of the woods that is regular trash picker. It's nice because one year both my mother and I had extra bench seats in our vans that we didn't want. We put them out by the road and in about 30 minutes the guy came and got them. Nice because otherwise we would have to take them to the dump and probably pay to dump them.

**shoiji** · 02-29-2008, 03:13 PM

When still driving I would suddenly stop to look at stuff on the side of the road. Or yard sale. Have found chairs, wooden sewing machine cabinet, and other stuff. Also, since I am in an apartment complex have found lots of stuff by the side of the dumpster. Such as, fan, shelves, the fake ficus trees. If I am decluttering I will put stuff by the side of the dumpster. Usually it is gone very quickly.

I do draw the line at actually going inside a dumpster though.

**Dancing Lotus** · 02-29-2008, 04:14 PM

I have picked up things I saw on the side of the road but I won't actually dig in the trash can. I don't know why I just can't.

**jettsmom** · 02-29-2008, 04:19 PM

I don't normally do this. If I see it from my front door, is when I normally grab stuff that's in good condition.

**annymoll** · 02-29-2008, 04:57 PM

I had a friend who once convinced me to ride over to Mission Hills, Kansas on trash day. He had a beautiful home in a neighboring community that he had furnished with the cast offs from several homes. I donned a wig and sunglasses ,as did he, and went along for the ride in his beat up clunker truck. People were throwing out lovely items, but I couldn't bring myself to rummage through it. Basically, I couldn't quit laughing. He looked like a hobo. One lady came out screaming,"What the hell are you bums doing-get out of here, I'm calling the cops" He told her he was looking for a sandwich or some booze. I damn near died.We got the heck out of there.I cannot do it. More power to those who can.From the experience I have learned to neatly set out my unwanted things with a little sign,"Free Store". They always are taken.I enjoy that.Now food items? No way would I dig in garbage for junk food ( or any food)to give my family. Ick.To each his own.

**elohimrules** · 02-29-2008, 05:48 PM

I saw Oprah the other day and she had "freegans" on her show. They dumpster dive and get so much stuff for free...food, clothing, etc. Ive always thought of myself as frugal but when I saw that show i was sort of "one downed" so to speak. Anyone else think that being frugel is one thing but trash picking and eating is, well,...just nasty.

**M55FF** · 02-29-2008, 06:32 PM

I have done it in the past but now... trying to declutter so I won't stop at anyones trash unless its something like...
someone in my neighborhood with the same kind of house as mine who is throwing out the kitchen cabinet doors as I may be able to use them or at least save a few in case mine get damamged.

These days I'm all about de-cluttering, not aquiring.... but yes.. I've done it in the past, mostly junk furniture to hold me over until I could get some decent stuff.

food from the trash? ugh......... no way !
hepatitis isn't something i care to get.

**coup** · 03-02-2008, 12:15 PM

I haven't, but would if I saw the right object out to the road!

We have put a broken gas grill & refrigerator to the road and both were picked up in 30 minutes. After a garage sale at my Mom's we put a pool ladder and gazelle type glider out to the road. Within minutes a man came all the way up to the house to see if they were free and if he could have them! They were all his!

I may have to check out the dumpster situation at our local dollar stores......

**Lady_V** · 03-02-2008, 12:22 PM

We don't have to dumpster dive... they leave it right there for us

We live in a condo complex and people assume someone is going to want whatever they are getting rid of, so they leave the items next to the dumpster.

We also have attic storage, and when people move out, they usually just drag their storage in to the middle of the attic area (against the rules since you are suppose to lug the stuff down 4 flights). We have gotten 2 computers, some pans, a telephone and a futon frame (we had the mattress, last frame had broken) and a mini-pool table.

I think it's great, just go up and pick what you want and know it hasn't been exposed to the weather... but it is a pain because we do have to pay to have the items removed from the common area...

**wanderlusting** · 03-02-2008, 02:04 PM

I haven't done it..but it's big here in Germany. Once a year, there's curbside pickup from the trash department of big items. So people go driving around to see if there are any pieces of furniture that interest them and they can take it if they get there before the garbage trucks get em!