How to Dumpster Dive
A dumpster or a trash heap may not seem like much, but it contains many valuable stuff that you may find useful. Dumpster diving is a great way not only to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, but the stuff you find from a dumpster can also help other people who need it more than you do. Here are some tips to help you go about a day of dumpster diving.
Keep It Safe and Legal
Dumpster diving is usually done by vagrants as a means of survival. You never know what you’re going to find in a trash can; some people rely on stuff people throw away in order to survive, like food or clothes. Some people may dumpster dive out of personal choice, because they can save the environment by leading lifestyles that are not as energy-intensive. Some people may even have picked up a quirky habit of finding some interesting item from the dumpster, and taking it for keeps.
In some jurisdictions, scrounging dumpsters and trash cans for recyclables and other useful items is against the law. Dumpster diving does pose serious threats to your health and the well-being of others. If dumpster diving and scrounging is illegal in your neighborhood, do not do it. You should also be wary of diseases and illnesses you may pick up if you consume food from a dumpster, or if you pick up interesting stuff from a trash can.
Look for the Right Places
Not all dumpsters are gold mines for things you can keep or give away. The best places to find interesting items from dumpsters and trash cans are:
Near restaurants, if you’re looking for food.
Near apartments and houses, if you’re looking for clothes.
Near stores and shops, if you’re looking for interesting items and curios.
It’s helpful to carry a bag or any other container where you can stow away your finds. Many dumpster divers use a grocery cart, but you can use a duffel bag or a garbage bag as well.
Sort and Segregate
Trash cans and dumpsters are messy places, and it can take a while for you to look for what you want and get it. Sorting and segregating your finds can be especially helpful if you pick up a lot of stuff from the dumpster:
Food. If the food smells spoiled, or if it has been contaminated by other items inside the dumpster, it’s best to leave it alone. Frozen food or stored food wrapped in plastic bags can still be eaten as long as they’re not spoiled or if they don’t smell rancid.
Clothes that you salvage from dumpsters should still be wearable. After washing and repairing clothes, you can give them away to a local charity.
Recyclables. Plastic bottles, cans, and other recyclables can be sold to a junk shop or a recycling facility.
Knick-knacks. You never know what you’re going to find in a dumpster, and you never know what people throw away. If you find an interesting item poking around in the trash, like a book or a handy paperweight, pick it up; chances are you’ll never find anything like it again.
An old saying goes, “One person’s trash is another’s treasure.” Poking around inside dumpsters and trash cans may seem gross, but you’ll be amazed at what you can pick up from the dump.