r/DumpsterDiving Sep 09 '19

Dumpster diving tips and tricks: a thread

2.0k Upvotes

Comment with your best diving tips and advice


r/DumpsterDiving Mar 25 '23

My dumpster diving list I created with 6 years of experience. Feel free to add.

1.9k Upvotes

I was a vagabond for 6 years, I hitchhiked, hopped freight trains and bicycled North America from Mexico to Alaska, east coast to west. I learned all of this on the way and figure it's time to share it.

Food:

๐Ÿ•- all pizza places throw out pizza at 12-2am. It's a dumpster staple. [Yes pizza is still in the box, I wouldn't eat it otherwise]

๐Ÿฉ - all donut shops (including places like kolache factory) throw out at 2-4pm. [They usually put all donuts into one bag by themselves]

๐Ÿ— (fried chicken) - actually very common, also a staple. Usually throw out is around an hour after they close which varies from place to place. Anything fried in bulk you can expect to find throw outs. [Usually still in boxes]. Also, if you're feeling brave enough, after closing hours, just go ask. Fast food workers don't get paid enough to g.a.f. and they get tired of eating their own food, so they don't want to take it home themselves. Just walk up and say "hey, do you guys happen to be throwing out any leftover chicken from today?". I've gotten a week's worth of chicken just handed to me through the window or they'll leave it in boxes on top of the dumpster so you don't have to dig.

๐ŸŽ ๐Ÿฅ— (produce) - grocery stores (time varies, but you also have to find places without a compactor. Some compactors you can break into but it's luck of the draw).

๐Ÿฌ ๐Ÿซ ๐Ÿญ (candy, junk food, snacks) - CVS & Walgreens. They're the reigning Champs of throwing out hundreds of $ worth of candy a day. I kind of try to keep from telling people this one because you could get diabetes in like a week if you tried to eat it all. It's horrendous.

๐Ÿ‘• ๐Ÿ‘– ๐Ÿฉณ (clothes) - Washaterias or laundromats. People are infamous, especially in rich areas, for washing a load of laundry and then just leaving it, never to return. The laundromat workers will just gather the clothes and toss them, as they're pretty use to it. I've filled up a whole wardrobe on several occasions with expensive brands just by looking for a sack of already washed and dried laundry in the dumpster.

๐Ÿ›‹ ๐Ÿ–ฅ (furniture)(electronics)(decorations) - College towns, (Christmas & Summer break - these seasons are known as "Crustmas" in the dumpster diving community) anywhere students notoriously live. You can even find anything else your looking for really. College kids are the biggest dumpster diving source in history.

๐Ÿ“š books and comic books - Half Priced Books or any resale book store. I've accidently fallen asleep in dumpsters before because I drifted off while laying on top of all the hundreds of books while reading. Not even kidding, there isn't even any room for trash, they have dumpsters that are full to the brim with just books.

โ“๏ธ(Wild card) - Are you feeling lucky punk? - hotels are the biggest oddball dumpster diving experience you'll ever have. You can find drugs, clothes, anything that someone would bring in a suitcase. People get shit-faced drunk and stumble out of their hotel with a hangover leaving 1/2 their belongings behind. It's kind of scary some of the stuff you'll find...(sex toys, etc. ). The cleaning service ladies get first dibs obviously and rightfully so, for what they have to put up with, lol.

Raw materials: --------

๐ŸชตWood : Construction site dumpsters at expensive locations. Ask for permission from the contractor. Contractors are a mixed bunch, sometimes they'll say yes sometimes no.

โš™๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฉ๐Ÿ”—Metal : machine shops - you can honestly just call these guys and 1/2 the time they'll let you onto their property and take what you want from the scrap bin. I'm 3 for 3 just by calling and asking politely for scrap.

๐Ÿ”จTools - Harbor Freight tools, the return rate on tools at harbor freight is INSANE. So many people will buy a tool, use it one day and return it slightly bent or scratched. Most sites have a compactor but every now and then you can find with a regular dumpster. If so, you can score some pretty good tools. (Or mediocre tools for that matter lmao)

๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ ๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ ๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ ๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ ๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ ๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ ๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ ๐Ÿ—‘ ๐Ÿšฎ

Protip 1- Dumpster diving is all about schedule. Sometimes places only throw out the quality items once a month, sometimes they purge their inventory only seasonally, or sometimes it's daily. Finding out those routines is the key and all you have to do is probe the spot every now and then to figure that out; or if you know someone who has worked there before, ask. The better you know a schedule, the less time your loot sits in the dumpster/air temp/outside environment for someone else to find or for it to spoil.

2 - Heavy bags usually have the goods. In the end I could just feel the outside of a bag and then weigh it a bit. With knowledge about the store, the schedule, feel and weight, I would already know what's inside.

3 - consistent dumpster diving will get you fit. The more you climb the more you find.

4 - GEAR: โ€ข Headlamp โ€ข closed toe shoes (for when you get inside the dumpster) โ€ข gloves โ€ข a big box or bag for your car to chunk stuff in. โ€ข hand sanitizer

๐ŸŒŸ 5 - Clean up after yourself, if you leave a place a mess they will begin locking the dumpster. You'll ruin the spot for yourself and everyone else. This is the #1 reason why store owners tend to be against it ๐Ÿ”’

  1. ... get good at holding your breath while doing cardio ๐Ÿ˜‚

r/DumpsterDiving 4h ago

Whatโ€™s the chance I scored?

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166 Upvotes

Found this tonight. Apparently itโ€™s a hotel safe. I shook it and itโ€™s heavy and has stuff inside I tried to look in the small holes in the back and I canโ€™t make out a whole lot. I see a can of snuff and an envelope. Itโ€™s probably going to be literal trash inside, but until I can get the angle grinder out tomorrow Iโ€™ll be dreaming itโ€™s phat stacks and bricks of gold!


r/DumpsterDiving 5h ago

Some perfumes i found in the trash.

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26 Upvotes

The lids and tops were cakes with dust. Someone bought the first one for 130 and my girlfriend took the last picture one


r/DumpsterDiving 1h ago

A lil amount of copper

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โ€ข Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 5h ago

My collection this year.

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20 Upvotes

This is just some of the stuff I've found since early spring when I started dumpster diving. The wood desk was my very first find. I do not leave my parking lot, this all just from my apartment building.


r/DumpsterDiving 9h ago

Mid Century Modern chair

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42 Upvotes

I was driving to Costco one morning when I saw this chair by the curb with other junk; decided that I'd take it if it was there when I got back.

Two hours later...into my hatchback it went.

It was probably a pretty expensive chair when new. The frame is rock solid and just needs some touching up. Upholstery, however, needs to be replaced.

In the end, it'll cost me more to reupholster than to buy a new chair. Where, however, will I ever find such a cool looking chair? It also kills me to think that this would otherwise go to the dump.

Reduce, reuse, recycle.


r/DumpsterDiving 6h ago

and clue what to do with a bunch of small ornamental rocks?

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12 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

I found a body

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795 Upvotes

All 5โ€™5โ€ of him was scrunched into a black trash bag. I stumbled upon him after I โ€œrat-holedโ€ the bag and noticed what appeared to be a very pale human-like hand starting to protrude from the bag. Anyway, I invited him back to mi casa and gave him a job doing seasonal work dressing up on holidays.

Please comment below what I should name him. Thank you!


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

40 % of all food stuffs get trashed

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294 Upvotes

Capitalism is not good enough for me! Iโ€™m so upset by how much is wasted
So many juices! And motherโ€™s milk cheese plus beer!


r/DumpsterDiving 20h ago

Electric lawnmower and bicycle in dumpster.

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62 Upvotes

Found these 2 items in the same dumpster this Morning.

A black and Decker electric lawnmower and a kent 700c fixie bicycle.

Both really rusty


r/DumpsterDiving 15h ago

Eating from a dumpster for 4 months: photos & lists of what I've found

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24 Upvotes

Hi, I'm Russian, my English is bad

I have a diary (the link above) where I post what I find, you can see all the photos and translate the text with ai


r/DumpsterDiving 28m ago

Morning/daytime commercial diving?

โ€ข Upvotes

Im a nighttime diver, I usually go to my usual 3-5 spots between 8-11pm, but lately itโ€™s been so insanely rainy and Iโ€™ve been working long hours to the point where I donโ€™t want to get out in the bad weather again after a long day. I know I wonโ€™t find as many groceries during the day, but does anyone have any luck diving anywhere commercial, or suggest other types of spots for daytime diving? I donโ€™t look for just groceries, but itโ€™s always the priority!


r/DumpsterDiving 21h ago

Hats!

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17 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 19h ago

Man Accidentally Loaded Into Garbage Truck After Dumpster Diving

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11 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 19h ago

Where to Dive ?

5 Upvotes

Im a vagabond, Im in California. Where do i start dumpster diving ? Im first guess is grocery stores but are there specific ones ? Are fast food or normal restaurants good ? What places do you guys look for ?


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

I never got sick from dumpster diving for food

13 Upvotes

I've dumpster diced a lot, including restaurants. I never got sick. I realized this after getting sick today. I have a headache and nausea after eating a sandwich. To be fair, it was made in the morning and I ate it at night without refrigerating it between. I've been getting sick ever since I've started to stay at homeless shelters, which give food - even if the food is fresh. At least twice it was due to chicken that was probably undercooked. I don't dumpster dive anymore.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

In life there are ups and downs but Dumpster Diving always has a place

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144 Upvotes

I took a short break for a bit. No, I didn't stop looking but I didn't really post anything at all. I have been focusing a lot on organizing the storage unit my place had become and donating all of the toys and clothes to those in my community. I just reopened Reddit this morning and the first post I saw was from this amazing subreddit and just the night before I had a pretty big find that will continue to help the community, right as I was just cleaning everything out too! ๐Ÿ˜…

I am not upset in the least though. I believe diving, and this community found me for a reason.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Colored Pens and Pencils

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110 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

not exactly dumpster but trash picking, found a brander flintlock pistol!

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933 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Found a bag of aluminum can tabs in a dumpster today

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565 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Diving buddy

6 Upvotes

Hello, Iโ€™m in the Indianapolis area for work and Iโ€™ve noticed that there are a few book stores near by. Would anyone be interested in joining me?!? I could also use some tips or advice since Iโ€™m not from this area I want to make sure that Iโ€™m not doing anything wrong, not completely sure if Indiana laws are the same as Ohio. My name is Dani feel free to message me thank you in advance!!


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

2 tubs full of led lights in various shapes and forms

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48 Upvotes

Along with a factory sealed box of 792 Topps micro baseball cards 792 and 3 uncut factory sheets of the entire Topps 1988 NFL card set


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Dumpster diving Boston

5 Upvotes

Very new to the area and curious if its anything like town Dumpster diving or if people could give tips for the area or just cities? I donโ€™t own a car so its kind of adding to my nervousness.


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Any old timers remember the days of "Dumpster World" and/ or "Dumpster Divers Paradise" ?

13 Upvotes

Just curious.

Hearsay said both dumpster diving web sites shut down due to becoming too popular and businesses began to take notice?

Dumpster World Mod Vegas J.

*Edit, Both websites were about dumpster diving. Divers would display thier "Dumpster finds" just like this site.