Lately, I've been hearing and reading articles on dumpster diving. It's something I'm really willing to do it since it helps reduce waste and many other reasons. The thing is where are some good places to look for food, clothes, random things, etc.? When is the best time to go? And if you know of other helpful information, please do share. I know already it's illegal where I live. Thanks.
By ChildGoddess from Kenora, Ontario
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Please don't pick food from dumpsters, you could get deathly sick if you eat any of it.
I've saved some fantastic things from the land fill including an antique ball and claw foot book case! It had a couple of scratches, but nothing that old english wouldnt cover up!
I just recommend that if it's from a neighbors house... wait until everyone leaves for work before poking through any discards.
I wouldn't take anything out of a dumpster that I would actually have to move garbage to get at. In the apartment complex that I live in when people discard a piece of furniture they set it beside the dumpster, and in a matter of time somebody has taken it. I also wouldn't take anything upholstered out of a dumpster. If it is sitting beside the dumpster that is another matter. In SD a lot of cities have a designated day where the city will go around and pick up large items of whatever that a person wants to get rid of. This is done free of charge as long as you have sitting curbside. It is also a well known fact that people driving by will stop and rummage through your pile of stuff and if they see something they want they take it.
Our area just had major flooding in the basements. I would not take anything from a dumpster or from the curb. Could be contaminated with things you don't know. Yuck.
All of these are great ideas, including the cautions. My Dad had a business which created waste [plastic scraps, large paper bags], which he took to the land fill himself about once a month. He used to look through stuff and got things like a great waffle iron he cleaned and used for years [pre non-stick years]. He had a great waffle recipe. He collected bike parts and made new bikes for kids in the family.
Recycling centers will sometimes let you take things for minimal charge or none. Depends on how it's done in your area. A walk through an area on garbage day will sometimes be fruitful. Things along side or just on top of can. I wouldn't put hand in garbage can, for health reasons. Businesses often put things outside in industrial areas. You can ask if you can have something.
In my area people can't get into landfills anymore to pick through stuff.
First you should probably check into your local regulations about removing stuff from other people's dumpsters. It's a lot more legal then most people think, although it is very illegal in some areas.
Thrift stores are good, and grocery stores, or just keeping your eyes open when you're walking around (I've found a lot of jewelry material this way).
Please, to keep up the rep of the rest of us, respect people when they ask you to leave, and if possible leave a place nicer then when you got there.
It's a shame the waste in this country with so many homeless and hungry people. Grocery stores and wholesales clubs throw away hundreds of dollars of good food every day. Anyone working at these places know what I mean. The warehouse club I worked for would throw it away before they would reduce the prices and sell to employees.
They could donate food to shelters but they say they could get sued if someone good sick. I admire people who dumpster dive but where I live it's illegal and it's even illegal to place items outside and beside the dumpsters. When I was a child our family went to the city dumping grounds and brought home canned foods. If it weren't for that place we'd been close to starving.
Since it's illegal to do in your area I would suggest against it and, as others mentioned here, because of health safety issues so that's something to consider, too. Find out if it's legal to take items set out for collection "that are not in trash cans or dumpsters" though ;-)
I've found great finds outside of dumpsters like an almost new really nice and perfect colors for my home room size oriental rug (vacuumed and cleaned with carpet cleaner before bringing it in my home), a really nice six foot tall silk tree, oodles of nice planters, dishes and one time even almost three six packs of unopened Budweiser beers in bottles in a paper grocery bag (the tenant had been evicted and landlords can not keep anything for themselves). All these items plus more were set outside of dumpsters :-)
Another thing you can do is get to know managers at your local various stores and let them know you would appreciate if they would call you before throwing away certain items that you might be able to use. As long as it's not against store policy you'll find that many managers will be more than happy to give away rather than throw away :-)
I would not suggest taking any item that is upholstered (sofa, chairs, mattress, etc) because you don't know if there might be cockroaches or mice or other creatures in them :-o And if you find clothing be sure to immediately put them in the washing machine in hot water and a little extra soap!
I love free stuff! I haven't crossed the line of dumpster diving for food (like behind supermarkets though). I make my own dog food for my 2 dogs. The other day, the supermarket was out of giblets, and the butcher told me she just threw a bunch out yesterday. It crossed my mind to come back and dive for them. I don't have the gall to do it, plus I think my boyfriend would be disgusted.
I just ate when good things go to waste. I've certainly rescued a lot of furniture, knick knacks, and i have an online bookstore with 600 books and counting (mostly found for free and rescued from demise.)
Here are some thing that you can do to find free items to recycle. First join your local recycle group and join. People give away many things like clothes, shoes, household items. Even washers dryers etc... People have even gotten car parts from this group. And house plants and perennials. Scrap wood garden items etc. To find if you have a group in your area put your county and state in the internet search along with the work freecycle. Chances are there is one in your area.
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