Anyone here have dumpster-diving experience? Could use help... n/t

[Ian David]

[skids]

1. Used to dive back in my student days...

...but you aren't very specific...?

[Ian David]

9. Sorry, I was thinking in terms of gathering "opposition research"

Documents, files, computer disks, etc...

[DLAR]

11. Who?

I know you probably don't want to say on this open board. Sounds like fun.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi DLAR!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[htuttle]

2. There's not that much to it, really

What are you looking for? I've looked for everything from edible food to computer printouts behind a local Bell office...

on edit:
Oh, except that I'm not 'here' (as in Massachusetts). I just saw the thread on the Latest page and chimed in.

[Chuletas]

5. dunkin donuts

right after closing. Usually a lot of stuff in a clean bag.

Some fast food restaurants, avoid smaller restaurants, everything gets dumped into one bag, grease, rubbish etc. at least in my cooking days.

If you're near a college or university, try the end of meetings and stuff, not really a dumpster but you get what I mean.

near contractors, they throw away a lot of good wood, tiles, etc.

A lot of dumpsters are locked now, to prevent dumping not stealing trash.

thankfully, I do not have this level of poverty anymore, but I don't look down on it, we are a wasteful people.

[funflower]

3. You don't always have to dive. A lot of people leave decent stuff near

dumpsters in case somebody else wants it. The apartment complex we lived in many years ago had a virtual home furnishings exchange next to the dumpster. It was a great place to trade in your boards-and-bricks shelving for a fiber-board TV stand.... :D

[CoffeeCat]

4. I bet there's a lot of info on the Web...

...I'm an avid couponer, and I know that many people get multiple copies of the Sunday coupons by dumpster diving. They save thousands per year doing this.

I've only read about it in passing, but I know that people dumpster dive in all sorts of locations and get great stuff.

I'll hunt around and see if I can find some info...

This thread should be interesting. :)

[Historic NY]

6. Check with school cafeterias too........

sometime the manager will put stuff aside for you. By law they must dump it. My aunt was a manager and she thought it was a sin, she had stuff put out where it could be picked up (in some cases people were called). She could always claim it was thrown out, even if it never hit the dumpster.

[htuttle]

7. I've known of some restaurants...

...where the night staffs did that. Assuming they didn't want to eat it themselves, that is...

[Breeze54]

8. Try this--->

http://www.freecycle.com

FREE STUFF!!
Do your Christmas Shopping!!
:rofl:

Seriously!

Drive around on Sunday nights after the Yard Sales!!
It's a virtual Department store out there!!
Color TV's and Microwaves and computers and art work;
whole sets of glasses and furniture....just avoid
stuffed furniture (IMO) --> bugs....ick!

I put a gas grill outside near the sidewalk today.
I asked my son to put a "Free! Take Me!" sign on it.
He was writing the sign and he went out to tape it
on the grill and the grill was GONE!!
In less than 5 minutes!
LMAO!!

It would have cost me $25 to have it hauled off!
Everyone wins!!
:thumbsup:

HA! I just did a search and found this! Who knew??

Dumpster Diving 101
http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/dumpster.htm

Definition-
Dumpster Divers are people who search for things that other
people have thrown out that are still useful,
can be recycled, and have value.
Dumpster Divers will not only pick up discarded items left
at the curbside of people's homes, but they will climb into
dumpsters at apartment buildings and behind shopping centers.

However!
Most don't actually get in the bins.
Most people have some sort of long pole which allows them
to just lean over the dumpster and pull the items up to them.

People enjoy this hobby.
It's like a Treasure Hunt.

If you think about it, at one time or another we've all been
lazy and thrown away something that we could have given to
Goodwill or recycled.
If we've done it,
think about the people who don't watch their finances carefully.

They are throwing away things right and left!

Dumpster Diving can also be profitable.
You can make money with everything from aluminum cans
to items that can be resold at garage sales.

People have been known to give up their day jobs to do this!

MORE at the Link..............

:thumbsup:

[Ian David]

10. Thanks! n/t