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 9h ago

Last nightโ€™s haul..

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363 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 14h ago

50 State Quarter Book With Quarters Still Inside

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675 Upvotes

For People Not From the United States, from 1999-2009, Quarter Dollars were made for Each of the 50 States and other surrounding US territories, like Guam (5 released Each year)


r/DumpsterDiving 5h ago

Books, manga, and more

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81 Upvotes

Really happy with this haul! This is over the span of 3 different trips. The books were honestly my favorite find since I recognized a handful of them. Any that donโ€™t sell at a tag sale will go right to my local free library. The goosebumps tin also contained first edition prints of 5 books. And all of the bathroom items will definitely be helpful to have on hand โค๏ธ


r/DumpsterDiving 19h ago

You just never know

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463 Upvotes

I was up way earlier than usual and couldn't fall back asleep. So figured what the hell let's go check some spots I haven't been to in a while. Several came up empty or just trash, but two big scores in the form of two giant bags full of crackers, juice, cookies, and real Forever stamps! Oh and a still in the box shower stool I will donate.

Then a heavy bag at my next stop produced a bag of bird seed with a tiny hole in one corner but mostly full, and an entire case of beer, it had just been opened!! I'm guessing the store person who tossed it doesn't drink? Wouldn't you like, put that aside and come back for it yourself later? I dunno, but I was glad to be able to donate a ton of crackers and juice as the little free pantry was nearly empty.


r/DumpsterDiving 1h ago

Neighbours on the next block left this next to the bin. Initially wanted to list it, but she's so striking here. Might keep. A dash of pink on the wall will be fabulous!

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โ€ข Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 13h ago

Power out at HEB

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

45 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 18h ago

Hoodie, Sweater, Jacket, Dress, T-Shirts, Shirts

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55 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 21h ago

My first antique find

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86 Upvotes

Era: Circa 1912โ€“1930s

Sadly the only plate to survive ๐Ÿ˜ญ

The bin was quite full and the charity shop will use a step ladder to climb in to stamp everything down to make it fit.


r/DumpsterDiving 4h ago

Any dumpster divers in the St. Louis area?

2 Upvotes

I haven't dived yet but I'm interested. It's hard to find concrete info on the laws, so I'm hesitant to start. I'd mainly be interested in diving in the county.

Any tips? It sounds like it's ok as long as the dumpster isn't locked, gated, or specifically labeled as private. I was thinking after stores close or possibly early morning before they open.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Found a bag of these potatoes in a dumpster, do they look safe enough to eat?

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264 Upvotes

Went dumpster diving trying to try find some food because I haven't eaten in three days and the only thing I found were these. They are more green in person. The rational part of me thinks I should just toss them as they are not worth getting sick over but the starving part of me doesn't have the heart to throw them away and thinks I could make them work. Are they salvageable?


r/DumpsterDiving 12h ago

Houston / Atascocita Area

7 Upvotes

Looking for some spots in houston or atascocita area! any specific stores? this will be my first time diving, iโ€™ve read lots of tips and just wanted to know where and when to go. thank you in advance.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Update RE: Too big to fit in a dumpster. Someone removed the metal siding and stashed it under and behind the trailer.

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41 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

How do you feel about this?

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187 Upvotes

This shit infuriates me, it's literally going to a landfill.

Also the police in the UK will absolutely not give a shit or enforce this.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Trees!

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110 Upvotes

And even l can't kill them, cos theyโ€™re plastic :)


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

How old are yโ€™all?

25 Upvotes

Iโ€™m 25 and get told Iโ€™m the youngest person other divers have seen out and about. How old are ya and how long have you been in the game?


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Erotic Playing Cards, Sleep-Aid Gummies, Kinder Egg, Gum, Chip Clip, Tuna, Condoms, Beer, Books, Popcorn

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64 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Not a dumpster, but it still pays off to take the long way around on trash day.

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133 Upvotes

Good finds usually come in pairs.

As luck would have it I needed a bike in this size and the universe provides, today is trash day and down one of the streets on my way to work I spotted these two bikes , both are in decent shape and only need some general maintenance, tightening up some bolts , greasing some bearings and oiling the chain.

And before anyone asks, no I did not steal them, they were out with the trash piles in front of multi apartment building, along with an old power wheels motorbike that was broken, and several bags of miscellaneous household items and kids toys.

In my area it pretty common to see trash days like this and itโ€™s kind of frustrating to see stuff get thrown out in bulk and bags of just messy mixes of stuff.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Medical device haul

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59 Upvotes

Walking boot, shoe, and crutches from an apartment dumpster. This is the second pair of crutches I've found, so I'll be giving these away. I'll look for a medical charity in my area that could use them.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

I feel bad for disabled divers

13 Upvotes

I feel sorry for people whose physical conditions limit their ability to participate in this activity - especially if they have trouble getting regular work and thus could particularly use the savings

First example that comes to mind is food allergies - limiting what finds they could eat or maybe even be around, bee allergy would be similar if those buzzing around a bin are more than a nuisance Limited endurance, motor skills or immune system would be obvious problems If a hemophiliac something like nicking your finger on a piece of broken glass would be more than a minor annoyance


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

chocolaty trail mix made entirely out of dumpster finds

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203 Upvotes

from recent mega haul. pics of the actual haul will be posted later


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Someone left em in the car too long, but Iโ€™ll save the rest.

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165 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Batteries not included. Found 2 Very bright LED non-rechargeable flashlights. Both working after I installed batteries

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38 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Dumpster diving for pop cans. A days adventure as a homeless person.

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10 Upvotes