dumpster diving
do y’all have any thoughts on dumpster diving? i’ve been watching tiktoks of folks finding INCREDIBLE stuff in the dumpsters of BBB, B&BW, & others. i know it’s not the same as you going into a store and getting a specific thing, but a lot of the stuff could be sold on like FB marketplace or a local forum for cash. and a lot of it could be given as gifts. or if you have a friend who also needs things, u could start a tiny exclusive FB group of folks who u trust that could dive together. or if you’re diving alone and find a great load of stuff, u can msg the ppl in the group so they can come look thru it.
i really love this idea bc you get the thrill of the find without the anxiety of the lift (honestly the anxiety is the #1 thing that stops me from lifting). and you can still find great things! some of the things i’ve seen people find (this is all brand new): entire bookshelves and desks, a set of dishes, area rugs worth thousands of dollars each, a vacuum, huge $20 candles where the glass is a little chipped, etc.
the tricky thing with this is that the laws vary a lot— in some places, diving is illegal. i’ve personally been struggling to find the specific laws for diving online. but the general rule seems to be that as long as ur not trespassing, you’re fine. another snag could be ur area. i live in a college town and a lot of the dumpsters are just straight up locked.
would love to hear your thoughts!
something i'd love to do but don't think i can achieve😔 plus idk if it's a feasible thing in the UK, everything seems to be locked up and impenetrable around stores
diving is definitely worth it, but it depends on the store in your area and what youree looking for. i never went out with a goal, but i found 3 large photo frames at m!ch4els, only 1 was broken and another one just needed a little wood glue! drug stores toss out makeup sometimes but you have to be very careful with unopened packages.
lots of stores also (unfortunately) go to great length to make diving harder. theyll spray paint or smash up mirrors, glass and often destroy items before tossing them because they dont want divers to be attracted there.
general rules:
1. check the laws in your area, never attempt to unlock a dumpster and never trespass for a dumpster.
2. be considerate! dont bring a bunch of people expecting a massive haul, just check out places near you first and only take what you need!
3. dont worry about other people. ive gone diving in the middle of the day and i dont care if a stranger sees me hop into the garbage. depending on the laws in your area, you may have to look out for police, but they shouldnt cause too much trouble so long as youre not trespassing or messing up the place.
4. leave the dumpster looking the same, if not better, than when you got there! dont throw things outside of the dumpster while diving and pick up any extra trash around it if you can! companies get very impatient with dumpster divers that leave a mess, so dont do it, or the dumpster will probably get locked up one day!
5. protect yourself! latex or rubber gloves are a must, lysol wipes or sanitiser, masks of course, waterproof shoes (or ones you dont care about), small garbage bags or an old backpack will be good for taking your haul home before you get the chance to clean the items! if youre concerned about personal safety bring a small knife or call someone on the phone while youre diving. the safest way is to go with a partner!
if your friends arent divers and dont want to hop in with you, thats alright! ask if they can be a lookout just to check out whats in the dumpster! they dont have to do any diving :)
hope this helped!
