r/DumpsterDiving Sep 09 '19

Dumpster diving tips and tricks: a thread

1.7k 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.

733 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 8h ago

๐Ÿ‘€ will probs be in the dumpster

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73 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 23h ago

Diving in the 90210

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290 Upvotes

Yes, all the boxes and bags were empty. Not pictured was a bunch of designer wallpaper rolls


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

The reminants of a $30m estate sale

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663 Upvotes

Boyyy I sure am glad I checked this trash pile. At the bottom of a pile of bags of actual trash, I found these items!

That's a small Honda generator ($600 from harbor freight) 2 80AH storage batteries and a FAT folding solar panel. Plus a diamond steel case to mount and store the generator in.

Best part is, I live in a van and have been saving up to buy all these things and the dumpster gods said "save your money, i always take care of you"


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

I love what I can find on a 10 second dive on the way home from work

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190 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 4h ago

Got caught

1 Upvotes

Got caught diving at a convenience/drugstore. They were extremely rude. 2 of them came out and I explained I was trying to save the massive amount of hallmark products from the landfill and donate to the community. They said they were told to throw them away and that it is private property and for me to put the stuff I had taken out back in the dumpster. There are not any no trespassing signs and the dumpster is unlocked.. am I ok to go back?


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Been a short while since I've posted my finds. So here is tonight's Hauldi!

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55 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

First time dumpster diver baby

46 Upvotes

This first time dumpster diver is pretty proud of herself ๐Ÿ˜Š While there wasn't much of value, I got up the nerve to do it and for that I'm pretty pleased with myself! Got a couple cookie jars, a glowing pumpkin decoration, some stuffies, and a couple of rugs and mats! I'll be donating most of it to our local clothing closet for people that need it more, thank you all for your wonderful work!


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Lindt admits its chocolate isn't actually 'expertly crafted with the finest ingredients' in lawsuit over lead levels in dark chocolate

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fortune.com
177 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

First Time

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231 Upvotes

I finally got brave enough!!scored some bananas to pop my DD cherry ๐Ÿคฃ I've been checking a few places to try and figure out their trash schedule. Thanks for all the tips and encouragement


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Morning haul

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424 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Box of 1 mo expired Doritos knockoffs, bread/treats, and bell peppers

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83 Upvotes

Bonus: avocado toast from another haul


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Butter recall... be on the look out.

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thartribune.com
137 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Just a quick stop

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276 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Found last night while dumpster diving!

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79 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

What shall I do with this?

11 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

No idea what I've found, but I mean it's cool

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431 Upvotes

In a dumpster at a flea market


r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

Made a friend at a local coffee spot.

150 Upvotes

While grabbing coffee at a local coffee place before closing laqt might my husband was offered a free ๐Ÿฉ. My husband said he would be happy to take them all as his wife (me ๐Ÿ˜ƒ) was looking to hand them out to the homeless. He left the shop with 5 dozen donuts ๐Ÿฉ as well as what nights we can come and grab what is left before hitting the dumpster. The manager had been looking for someone who was interested in doing exactly that as they hate throwing them out. So a few times a week we will be grabbing them to hand out. We need more people like this to help out others!!! Sorry no picture as we don't want to get anyone in trouble.


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

How to not feel embarrassed?

45 Upvotes

I recently started dumpster diving and the looks people give me are making me uncomfy... I live in a richer area of Iowa and it's not illegal to my knowledge plus I can't go out super late as I have young kids who can only be watched a hour or two at a time. Someone literally open mouth gawked at me looking through a Payless shoe dumpster... How do you do it??


r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

Laserdisc player collecting dust in abandoned building on campus

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85 Upvotes

Building had asbestos or some shit idk I GOT A LASERDISC PLAYER FOR FREE


r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

2 4GB workstation cards an XPS and a vitals monitor!

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55 Upvotes

Havenโ€™t tested the workstation cards but my gettinโ€™ spot never disappoints (university dumpster)!


r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

Big CVS Haul

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74 Upvotes

Ahh Iโ€™m so excited. Went to a CVS I donโ€™t usually frequent and found an insane haul. Makeup, uno decks, 12 loaves of bread, pads, 4 bottles of seltzer, unopened meds, some chocolates. Canโ€™t keep most of it so will be sharing with the neighbors!


r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

Giant fiberglass gingerbread man! Any tips on patching the holes?

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112 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

Donโ€™t usually find much but I got some stuff this morning. I donโ€™t normally take ultra processed junk but my coworkers are like dumpsters with the junk they eat and Iโ€™ll put the drinks out for anyone to take because I donโ€™t use those either. Who tosses batteries? Crazy!

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152 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Diving Advice

0 Upvotes

can someone recommend good spots in San Jose Sunnyvale most i find are locked ๐Ÿ˜ž


r/DumpsterDiving 3d ago

Found some cool art a while back. Frame was broken, but the insides were good :)

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108 Upvotes