Dumpster Diving?

[chrissyk]

Never have; never will. There's a reason why stuff is thrown away...

Yep, and often it's because stores get a bigger write-off for tossing it than then do for donating it I'm talking about brand-new stuff, often in the unopened cartons that it was shipped to the store in.

I don't even want to tell you how much we were able to donate to our town's XMas toy drive 2 years ago, thanks to said unopened cartons just getting tossed out in a retail dumpster. The store manager actually told us what was in the cartons and how many car trips we'd have to make to get them all out of there and donated. She HAD to throw them out per her store's rules, but she seemed happy that someone was going to rescue them and donate them.

We are such a sad throw-away society

 

[Disneyrsh]

Yep, and often it's because stores get a bigger write-off for tossing it than then do for donating it I'm talking about brand-new stuff, often in the unopened cartons that it was shipped to the store in.

I don't even want to tell you how much we were able to donate to our town's XMas toy drive 2 years ago, thanks to said unopened cartons just getting tossed out in a retail dumpster. The store manager actually told us what was in the cartons and how many car trips we'd have to make to get them all out of there and donated. She HAD to throw them out per her store's rules, but she seemed happy that someone was going to rescue them and donate them.

We are such a sad throw-away society

OMG are you telling me if I look in the back of Dumpsters at the mall they're full of new stuff? That's insane! Why would a store make rules like that?

 

[mickeyfan2]

Never have; never will. There's a reason why stuff is thrown away...

Same feeling here. Never DD and never will.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Yep, and often it's because stores get a bigger write-off for tossing it than then do for donating it I'm talking about brand-new stuff, often in the unopened cartons that it was shipped to the store in.

When I was in high school, the retail store that I worked at out compact the stuff. Otherwise, people would DD and then try to return it to us.

 

[chrissyk]

OMG are you telling me if I look in the back of Dumpsters at the mall they're full of new stuff? That's insane! Why would a store make rules like that?

Never dive at the actual shopping mall. It's not illegal in most jurisdictions, but the Rent-A-Cops don't understand that. Strip malls are where most people dive. Yes, the dumpsters are merchandise dumpsters, full of brand-new stuff I actually think that the IRS must have something in their code that encourages stores to pitch the stuff rather than donating it. That's what we were told by the store manager who told us what was in the dumpster and how many carloads we'd need to make to take it to the donation center for our town's toy drive

You really need to check your county ordinances before you start diving, but in many jurisdictions anything in a dumpster is considered abandoned property. It's so sad that so much brand-new stuff gets tossed instead of donated. My friend and I donated a LOT of brand-new stuff, and we only dove one day a week for like an hour. Imagine how much useable, brand-new stuff just goes to the landfill.

 

[mickeyfan2]

NOW HERE IS THE OBVIOUS QUESTION:

Do you regift stuff you DD for?

 

[chrissyk]

When I was in high school, the retail store that I worked at out compact the stuff. Otherwise, people would DD and then try to return it to us.

OMG! That's really bad!!

BTW, one rule of diving is to NEVER dive a compacting dumpster. It's beyond dangerous. Also, don't dive a dumpster with a "no trespassing" sign.

 

[chrissyk]

NOW HERE IS THE OBVIOUS QUESTION:

Do you regift stuff you DD for?

 

[jekajekalynn]

Wow, I learn something new everyday.

I have several things that were picked up that ppl left out on the sidewalk to be picked up by the Garbage ppl..

One of my fave things was a BRAND new Gracco stroller that my inlaws got from their neighbors sidewalk.

Their loopy neighbors were having one of there weekly fights were the whole neighborhood could hear their argument. Apparently the husband didn't get the right stroller and the wife threw out the one he got!! lol My mil got the stroller for me. It was one of those real expensive ones with the baby carrier that snaps on it.

Well their loss was my gain.

 

[cepmom]

I've never actually gone into a dumpster, but I have been know to grab something off the sidewalk left out for the garbage trucks. My kids call me a "trash picker" Hey...I've gotten some really great things from the sidewalk that are perfectly fine...why let them go to waste?

My grandmother has a dumpster in her condo complex and she gets some really great items there too (although she is a little old to "dumpster dive" she will grab something if it is beside the dumpster) I guess I know where I get it from

 

[gtpgirl19]

well seems like we are split 50/50 here some do and some dont... Well I finally went tonight and found 6 bags of Pedigree Dog food 50Lb Bags I kept one and donated the other to the animal shelter

 

[CindyBeth]

I have trashed picked from my neighbors! My dh hates when I do that! lol

I have dd but for boxes to ship items for ebay. There are a couple of businesses near me that don't break them down but I only grab the ones that are near the edge and the top and they are pretty clean too.

 

[chrissyk]

well seems like we are split 50/50 here some do and some dont... Well I finally went tonight and found 6 bags of Pedigree Dog food 50Lb Bags I kept one and donated the other to the animal shelter

Congrats That's a good haul! You never forget what you found on your first dive, BTW Mine was 10 brand-new bags of potpourri and a wrought-iron candellabra

 

[xCourxCorex]

I've never actually gone into a dumpster, but I have been know to grab something off the sidewalk left out for the garbage trucks. My kids call me a "trash picker" Hey...I've gotten some really great things from the sidewalk that are perfectly fine...why let them go to waste?

My grandmother has a dumpster in her condo complex and she gets some really great items there too (although she is a little old to "dumpster dive" she will grab something if it is beside the dumpster) I guess I know where I get it from

my mom, the trash picker.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Well, I haven't dumpster dove, but I have dump shopped. Our local dump has a big shed where people drop off anything that isn't garbage, but that they don't want anymore. It's free to whoever wants to carry it home. It's a lot easier for us than having a yard sale (a little tough in northern New England )

Jen

 

[LoveWDW]

Around here it is accepted that you put items you don't want on the curb and anyone who wants them can take them. Usually things are taken- mainly furniture and large toys. If nobody takes them before trash pickup, they become trash.

 

[pjlla]

I don't throw a lot out, I either sell it on ebay (you'd be amazed!) or give it to charity. If it makes it to the trash, man, you DON'T want it.

This is precisely what I told our trash man (he is a friend from church)..... "If it is in my trash, it really is TRASH".... I NEVER throw away anything that has any potential use left!

BTW, I've often been tempted to ask him if I could accompany him one day on his trash runs. He must find great stuff!! His wife said he used to bring home tons of stuff, but then the "fun" wore off (and the garage got full!)... so now he doesn't bring home anything................P

 

[chrissyk]

Well, I haven't dumpster dove, but I have dump shopped. Our local dump has a big shed where people drop off anything that isn't garbage, but that they don't want anymore. It's free to whoever wants to carry it home. It's a lot easier for us than having a yard sale (a little tough in northern New England )

Jen

Ah yes...the "Give and Take" shed!!! My friend and I donated a bunch of stuff there when we were both moving last year. People prowl that thing like crazy, waiting for the good stuff to be dropped off. It was wild!

 

[missypie]

DH is a "garbage picker." That's how my girls got a pink car for their Barbies! When people have sold their house and moving day is near, they throw out tons of stuff. One lady must have been moving after a split with her husband or boyfriend. Right before she moved, she threw out a ton of "his" stuff, including a case of beer!

DH dumpster dove one Christmas night. We were returing home one Christmas evening from looking at lights; as we passed the local elementary school, we saw a guy throwing two bicycles into the dumster. I guess his kids must have gotten new ones or something. DH got both of those (the dumpster was otherwise empty because school break). Our son rode one of the bikes for a couple of years, and we used the extra for spare parts.

Our neighbor took some outdoor Christmas decorations (some of those reindeer) from the trash of a house about 8 houses down. When she put them out the next year, we had to laugh and wonder if the neighbors who threw them out recognized them!