I recently have gotten into dumpster diving, and it is an incredibly thrilling and rewarding hobby. If you have ever thought about doing this or live on a small budget, here are a few tips on how to make sure your dumpster diving is as successful and safe as possible!
First Things First
Dumpster diving is a legal activity, and is not as gross as it sounds. Most of the action happens by standing outside of a dumpster and moving around cardboard boxes and plastic bags until you see something cool. You rarely have to get inside the dumpster unless you feel so inclined, and the majority of the items you find have been returned and cannot be re-sold (but are in perfect condition), or are food or candies that will be expiring soon. (key word: soon!) The money saved and the money made from digging around in dumpsters is worth overseeing the stigmas associated with dumpster diving!
Bring the Essentials
Flashlight and gloves. You never know what is going to be in a dumpster, so you want to protect yourself as best as possible. Heavy-duty, waterproof gloves and a flashlight or headlamp are two tools that you can both buy at a discount store, and are necessary when diving in dumpsters.
I also wear waterproof combat boots, bring a roll of duct tape in case I want a bag of cat food that has a few tears in it, and have a plastic bucket to put smaller or dirtier items in!
Keep a Log
Not every time you hit your local shoe store will you find a dumpster full of name-brand shoes. But one day you might! Keep a log of the days and times you hit certain locations so you can keep track of what days they throw things out, as well as if a dumpster is worth returning to.
Be Aware of Your Rights
Spend at least 15 minutes on the internet researching the laws on dumpster diving in your state, so if anyone bothers you while dumpster diving you can recite your rights!
Aside from this, avoid dumpsters with warnings signs that say things such as “No Trespassing,” dumpsters with locks and be weary of dumpsters enclosed in fences! All of those must be avoided. Side note: most bigger stores put their trash in large trash compacter. Stay away from these, as they can be very dangerous and anything that was of value is already destroyed.
Sell, Sell, Sell!
Not only will you be saving money by finding goodies, you can sell things as well! A lot of time and gas money can go into this hobby. Don’t forget that there are many non-divers who will gladly buy the cool things you hauled out of dumpsters.
Always keep your eye on the prize and remember, consistency is key!
Happy Diving!