"Dumpster Diving" for Fun and Profit.
One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treaure!
Profit, Art... and Priceless Treasures... From Trash
by Jacqueline Corbett
"Dumpster diving", often a survival technique for the hungry and homeless, can, for believers and visionaries, be an exciting treasure hunt yielding antiques, vintage collectibles, and exciting finds waiting to be turned into art.
For some, dumpsters and garbage piles are sources of priceless treasures (some very eBay-able). For others, they are a stash of wonderful "raw materials" waiting to be made into objects of art. For yet others, a source of food, clothing, decorative and useful items for the home.
For those addicted, they can be a never-ending and inexpensive source of amusement ... providing a "rush" unequalled even by the finest flea market or thrift store find. Definitely the "thrill of the hunt"... and then some.
There is something both magical and mystical about "dumpster diving". Not only are you "rescuing" something of value from almost certain oblivion -- but you are also receiving a "surprise gift from the Universe" that is totally free.
"Dumpster diving" has become almost fashionable these days... with mentions of it showing up in the popular media.
I discovered it by chance over 20 years ago, after "starting over" in the mountains of North Carolina.
At the time, unattended dumpsters were the way garbage was dealt with in all but the most urban areas of Western North Carolina. Whole houseful's of belongings would often wind up in the dumpsters ... creating an afternoon's worth of entertainment... a veritable "archeological dig" of sorts as you progressed through layers of discarded objects... looking for "the good stuff".
Yielding treasures to be cherished like the cast iron monkey doorstop that followed me to Philadelphia and back... or the numerous household and clothing items that found their way to Asheville's Dreamland Flea Market, helping pay the $435 a month rent on our 3 story, 4 bedroom 3 bath rental home (another of my amazing finds!).
Not only has dumpster diving been an now and then source of amusement, and occasional sustenance, but I personally find it to be one of the highest forms of re-cycling -- and a marvelous way to practice receiving "manna" from the Universe.
How the Matching Color Monitor Magically Appeared
I am still in awe of the amazing way the matching HP Pavilion 15" Color Monitor came into my possession. There was no doubt in my mind that THIS was not just a coincidence.
Six months earlier, I had purchased an HP Pavilion computer. Really tight for cash, I had no choice but to make do with an old Dell monitor with terrible color.
One Wednesday evening, I took the "long way home" from work. As I sped by the Jr. League Thrift Store in Bryn Mawr -- a stop on the rather ritzy Philadelphia 'Main Line' and one of my favorite Saturday afternoon places to hunt for treasure -- I spotted a bunch of interesting looking chairs sitting next to the store's dumpster.
I quickly did a U-turn.
Not only was one of the chairs a great find, but inside of the dumpster I spotted an HP color monitor. I brought it home and hooked it up to my computer. It worked perfectly. I now finally had a place to hang the speakers that had come with my computer -- and could build webpages and see them in vibrant color.
I priced the monitor at Comp USA at $250.00.
I felt -- and still do -- truly blessed. For I was undoubtedly the perfect recipient of this monitor which had been discarded by someone who no doubt had upgraded to a much bigger and nicer monitor. Led to it by some mysterious guidance for which I am both eternally grateful and continuously in awe.
That same dumpster has before and since yielded many another treasure. Here's just a brief and very partial list from memory.
* A matched set of four pink Pyrex refrigerator dishes from the '50's. Sold on eBay for $55.00.
* A blue Uncle Sam cash register bank. Sold on eBay for about $25.
* A gorgeous set of lapis blue Mikasa dishes minus a cup or two which I still treasure.
* Several boxes of vintage LP's in mint condition..
* Untold numbers of intriguing books including a signed Howard Cosell autobiography which I sold on eBay for about $17.
* A wonderful native American beaded purse and matching beaded necklace.
You'll see from this list that the right dumpster can indeed be a very profitable and pleasurable place to "dive".
Curbside Trash Heaps in Fancy Neighborhoods Can Often Yield Wonderful Finds
Some folks purportedly make a very nice living just by making afterhours rounds of upscale neighborhoods on trash takeout night and reselling their finds.
I've haven't done that -- yet -- but I did make quite a haul one afternoon after spotting a huge trashpile in the front yard of a Dexter Hill home whose basement had been inundated by a recent flood and quickly applying my brakes and making a U-turn. An hour or two later, I walked back to the car with an assortment of goodies which included a small oriental carpet, a delightful vintage terracotta jug from some foreign country, several vintage Christmas ornaments in the form of birds and shells, two tall brass lamps, and an monogramed Irish linen bed sheet. More 'gifts from the Universe' as I've come to call them.
Garden Junk Forum
This forum is for the discussion of the creative use of found objects in the garden. Click Here.
Turning Trash into Art
Cracked Pots Garden Art from Recycled Materials
Dumpster Diversion Project
Dumpster Diving for Profit and Passion
Meet this group of artists, collectors and junkaholics — founding members of Philadelphia’s Dumpster Divers — who are constantly in search of discarded cultural artifacts ranging from marbles to Lego pieces to create their specialized work.
Trashopia.com To encourage recycling and creative reuse through educational displays and events.
SCRAP (Scroungers' Center for Re-Usable Art Parts) acts as a nonprofit conduit for unwanted materials. SCRAP collects materials from businesses and individuals that would other wise be thrown away, and distributes them to art and educational groups.
Recipients of materials include schools, daycare centers, museums, homeless shelters, senior citizen groups, neighborhood centers, theater groups, summer camps, and many other nonprofit groups. These organizations transform SCRAP materials into sculptures, paintings, and other masterpieces. "...By breathing new life into old objects, SCRAP reduces the amount of waste going to crowded landfills. By offering low cost art and re-use workshops and providing schools and organizations with badly needed art supplies, SCRAP stimulates creativity and environmental awareness. Nourished by so many wonderful SCRAP treasures, Children and adults learn how to 'REDUCE, RE-USE AND RECYCLE.' ..."
Making Money from Trash
Selling at Flea Markets Sketch of a metal "market stand"
Where and How to Dive
Dumpster Divas: Reviewer Finds Trash "to Dive For" by Amy Dacyczyn
Dumpster Directory: Freegan.info's Guide to Recovering Discarded Waste in Your Community
Dumpster Diving: What It Is ... and How to Do It.
Dumpsters of Central Alaska... or Where We Find The "Good Stuff"
The Dumpster Lady's Frequently Asked Questions "Is it legal?" "When to dive" "What to do when confronted" and more. Excellent!
Confessions of a Bottom Feeder
Another Confessions of a Bottom Feeder "I dumpster dive every weekend with my kids. They love it, and so do I. My oldest is the envy of all the kids on the block because he has his own TV. With the exception of buying new mattresses, I have furnished an entire house on dumpster dive finds. One can find dishes, glasses, bedding (washed in bleach in hot water of course), furniture, tables, the list goes on. There is nothing I haven't been able to find in a dumpster. We have the best luck in dumpsters around apartments. Especially around the first of the month. Kind of keep an eye out for the apartment complexes that seem to have high turn over rate. And then around the first of the month, you can find clothes, furniture, lamps, dishes. I take it all and then once a month load the car up with the baby clothes and other things that I have found and don't need, and donate them to the Goodwill. To be perfectly honest, I haven't had to buy my kids clothes in a very long time. Others are so willing to throw theirs out. Just make sure to wear good shoes and stuff because there is always a lot of glass and stuff around. I haven't done this, but I have read that one can even find food in dumpsters behind grocery stores and bread stores. It's possible, but I can't seem to take dumpster diving to that "level." My favorite stories are the ones where people have supposedly found antiques and the likes from dumpsters. I'd sure like that to happen to me!!!"
The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving (and how some folks have supported themselves and their families!)
Trash Thrash "The ins and outs, ups and downs of dumpster diving.... sharp- eyed divers have scored such bounty as a working Pentium computer (sans keyboard), numerous mice, modems, and other computer supplies; color TVs, chairs, china, jewelry (one guy found an engagement ring in a trash bin and promptly proposed to his girlfriend); a Ralph Lauren suede skirt, a complete swing record collection, a set of lawn furniture, wood scraps and lumber (often used for firewood); a set of slides from someone's trip to Moscow, miles of Christmas lights, an Asteroids video game player, a loaded handgun (excuse me?), $37.27 worth of pennies in a shoe box, and even--someone "swears to God"--a John Deere tractor...."
Some Good Dumpster Diving Tips
Freeman Z's Guide to Dumpster Diving
Curbside Diving (with Photos!)
Dumpster Tech: Your New Computer Could Be Waiting... But Don't Inhale
Dumpster Dive! Krystyn Wells scavenges Oak Park's alleys for trash treasures, finding everything but the kitchen sink... including the bathroom sink. Click here for the rest of the story.
Confessions of a Dumpster Diver
Princeton University Dumpster Divers "... Alex recently received a scholarship to Oxford University for adopting a lifestyle of "freeganism" through which he subsists primarily on other people's trash. Meet him and Cliff and Sean who spend their time working at the Princeton University's free bike co-op..."
Profit, Art... and Priceless Treasures... From Trash
by Jacqueline Corbett
"Dumpster diving", often a survival technique for the hungry and homeless, can, for believers and visionaries, be an exciting treasure hunt yielding antiques, vintage collectibles, and exciting finds waiting to be turned into art.
For some, dumpsters and garbage piles are sources of priceless treasures (some very eBay-able). For others, they are a stash of wonderful "raw materials" waiting to be made into objects of art. For yet others, a source of food, clothing, decorative and useful items for the home.
For those addicted, they can be a never-ending and inexpensive source of amusement ... providing a "rush" unequalled even by the finest flea market or thrift store find. Definitely the "thrill of the hunt"... and then some.
There is something both magical and mystical about "dumpster diving". Not only are you "rescuing" something of value from almost certain oblivion -- but you are also receiving a "surprise gift from the Universe" that is totally free.
"Dumpster diving" has become almost fashionable these days... with mentions of it showing up in the popular media.
I discovered it by chance over 20 years ago, after "starting over" in the mountains of North Carolina.
At the time, unattended dumpsters were the way garbage was dealt with in all but the most urban areas of Western North Carolina. Whole houseful's of belongings would often wind up in the dumpsters ... creating an afternoon's worth of entertainment... a veritable "archeological dig" of sorts as you progressed through layers of discarded objects... looking for "the good stuff".
Yielding treasures to be cherished like the cast iron monkey doorstop that followed me to Philadelphia and back... or the numerous household and clothing items that found their way to Asheville's Dreamland Flea Market, helping pay the $435 a month rent on our 3 story, 4 bedroom 3 bath rental home (another of my amazing finds!).
Not only has dumpster diving been an now and then source of amusement, and occasional sustenance, but I personally find it to be one of the highest forms of re-cycling -- and a marvelous way to practice receiving "manna" from the Universe.
How the Matching Color Monitor Magically Appeared
I am still in awe of the amazing way the matching HP Pavilion 15" Color Monitor came into my possession. There was no doubt in my mind that THIS was not just a coincidence.
Six months earlier, I had purchased an HP Pavilion computer. Really tight for cash, I had no choice but to make do with an old Dell monitor with terrible color.
One Wednesday evening, I took the "long way home" from work. As I sped by the Jr. League Thrift Store in Bryn Mawr -- a stop on the rather ritzy Philadelphia 'Main Line' and one of my favorite Saturday afternoon places to hunt for treasure -- I spotted a bunch of interesting looking chairs sitting next to the store's dumpster.
I quickly did a U-turn.
Not only was one of the chairs a great find, but inside of the dumpster I spotted an HP color monitor. I brought it home and hooked it up to my computer. It worked perfectly. I now finally had a place to hang the speakers that had come with my computer -- and could build webpages and see them in vibrant color.
I priced the monitor at Comp USA at $250.00.
I felt -- and still do -- truly blessed. For I was undoubtedly the perfect recipient of this monitor which had been discarded by someone who no doubt had upgraded to a much bigger and nicer monitor. Led to it by some mysterious guidance for which I am both eternally grateful and continuously in awe.
That same dumpster has before and since yielded many another treasure. Here's just a brief and very partial list from memory.
* A matched set of four pink Pyrex refrigerator dishes from the '50's. Sold on eBay for $55.00.
* A blue Uncle Sam cash register bank. Sold on eBay for about $25.
* A gorgeous set of lapis blue Mikasa dishes minus a cup or two which I still treasure.
* Several boxes of vintage LP's in mint condition..
* Untold numbers of intriguing books including a signed Howard Cosell autobiography which I sold on eBay for about $17.
* A wonderful native American beaded purse and matching beaded necklace.
You'll see from this list that the right dumpster can indeed be a very profitable and pleasurable place to "dive".
Curbside Trash Heaps in Fancy Neighborhoods Can Often Yield Wonderful Finds
Some folks purportedly make a very nice living just by making afterhours rounds of upscale neighborhoods on trash takeout night and reselling their finds.
I've haven't done that -- yet -- but I did make quite a haul one afternoon after spotting a huge trashpile in the front yard of a Dexter Hill home whose basement had been inundated by a recent flood and quickly applying my brakes and making a U-turn. An hour or two later, I walked back to the car with an assortment of goodies which included a small oriental carpet, a delightful vintage terracotta jug from some foreign country, several vintage Christmas ornaments in the form of birds and shells, two tall brass lamps, and an monogramed Irish linen bed sheet. More 'gifts from the Universe' as I've come to call them.
Garden Junk Forum
This forum is for the discussion of the creative use of found objects in the garden. Click Here.
Turning Trash into Art
Cracked Pots Garden Art from Recycled Materials
Dumpster Diversion Project
Dumpster Diving for Profit and Passion
Meet this group of artists, collectors and junkaholics — founding members of Philadelphia’s Dumpster Divers — who are constantly in search of discarded cultural artifacts ranging from marbles to Lego pieces to create their specialized work.
Trashopia.com To encourage recycling and creative reuse through educational displays and events.
SCRAP (Scroungers' Center for Re-Usable Art Parts) acts as a nonprofit conduit for unwanted materials. SCRAP collects materials from businesses and individuals that would other wise be thrown away, and distributes them to art and educational groups.
Recipients of materials include schools, daycare centers, museums, homeless shelters, senior citizen groups, neighborhood centers, theater groups, summer camps, and many other nonprofit groups. These organizations transform SCRAP materials into sculptures, paintings, and other masterpieces. "...By breathing new life into old objects, SCRAP reduces the amount of waste going to crowded landfills. By offering low cost art and re-use workshops and providing schools and organizations with badly needed art supplies, SCRAP stimulates creativity and environmental awareness. Nourished by so many wonderful SCRAP treasures, Children and adults learn how to 'REDUCE, RE-USE AND RECYCLE.' ..."
Making Money from Trash
Selling at Flea Markets Sketch of a metal "market stand"
Where and How to Dive
Dumpster Divas: Reviewer Finds Trash "to Dive For" by Amy Dacyczyn
Dumpster Directory: Freegan.info's Guide to Recovering Discarded Waste in Your Community
Dumpster Diving: What It Is ... and How to Do It.
Dumpsters of Central Alaska... or Where We Find The "Good Stuff"
The Dumpster Lady's Frequently Asked Questions "Is it legal?" "When to dive" "What to do when confronted" and more. Excellent!
Confessions of a Bottom Feeder
Another Confessions of a Bottom Feeder "I dumpster dive every weekend with my kids. They love it, and so do I. My oldest is the envy of all the kids on the block because he has his own TV. With the exception of buying new mattresses, I have furnished an entire house on dumpster dive finds. One can find dishes, glasses, bedding (washed in bleach in hot water of course), furniture, tables, the list goes on. There is nothing I haven't been able to find in a dumpster. We have the best luck in dumpsters around apartments. Especially around the first of the month. Kind of keep an eye out for the apartment complexes that seem to have high turn over rate. And then around the first of the month, you can find clothes, furniture, lamps, dishes. I take it all and then once a month load the car up with the baby clothes and other things that I have found and don't need, and donate them to the Goodwill. To be perfectly honest, I haven't had to buy my kids clothes in a very long time. Others are so willing to throw theirs out. Just make sure to wear good shoes and stuff because there is always a lot of glass and stuff around. I haven't done this, but I have read that one can even find food in dumpsters behind grocery stores and bread stores. It's possible, but I can't seem to take dumpster diving to that "level." My favorite stories are the ones where people have supposedly found antiques and the likes from dumpsters. I'd sure like that to happen to me!!!"
The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving (and how some folks have supported themselves and their families!)
Trash Thrash "The ins and outs, ups and downs of dumpster diving.... sharp- eyed divers have scored such bounty as a working Pentium computer (sans keyboard), numerous mice, modems, and other computer supplies; color TVs, chairs, china, jewelry (one guy found an engagement ring in a trash bin and promptly proposed to his girlfriend); a Ralph Lauren suede skirt, a complete swing record collection, a set of lawn furniture, wood scraps and lumber (often used for firewood); a set of slides from someone's trip to Moscow, miles of Christmas lights, an Asteroids video game player, a loaded handgun (excuse me?), $37.27 worth of pennies in a shoe box, and even--someone "swears to God"--a John Deere tractor...."
Some Good Dumpster Diving Tips
Freeman Z's Guide to Dumpster Diving
Curbside Diving (with Photos!)
Dumpster Tech: Your New Computer Could Be Waiting... But Don't Inhale
Dumpster Dive! Krystyn Wells scavenges Oak Park's alleys for trash treasures, finding everything but the kitchen sink... including the bathroom sink. Click here for the rest of the story.
Confessions of a Dumpster Diver
Princeton University Dumpster Divers "... Alex recently received a scholarship to Oxford University for adopting a lifestyle of "freeganism" through which he subsists primarily on other people's trash. Meet him and Cliff and Sean who spend their time working at the Princeton University's free bike co-op..."
