Trash Picking Question - Tips?

Question

IM NOT A HOBO!!

im having a yard sale this month & i heard that you can make money off of ppl's trash.

any tips like: locations..items and stuff like that.

thanx a bunch!

Answer 1

Okay, this is actually illegal but my mom used to do this all of the time and I would go with her. We only got caught once. She talked her way out of it though by saying that my bro had just graduated and we had a grad party for him, she was cleaning up and accidentaly threw her wedding ring in the trash..so she was trying to find it. bah! Anyways, we live in a college town so the best times for us to go would be right before graduation when the students were getting rid of everything. I would go during the day..it might be more risky as far as getting in trouble. But alot safer as far as getting hurt or some creepy person walking up behind you. Go to apartments and slowly drive by the dumpsters, if they look like they have anything "good" in them then park in a parking space next to it and get your goods. Then, so on. It might be best if you take someone with you and they can get out, look in it and see if it's worth stopping for. Whatever you do...WEAR GLOVES!!! & take hand sanitizer. After every stop you make...use the sanitizer. YOU NEVER KNOW what could be in there!

Also, look on craiglist and see if people have any free stuff in your area!

Answer 2

OLD PERSON HERE!  What is ppl's?

Ok, I understand now.  How do you think I furnished my apartment in college?  You used to be able to get some great stuff of the side of the road.  But people started to catch on and there is less stuff to be had.  Larger items like furniture are heading to Goodwill, as they will come into your home and remove it.  They are basically offering a moving service for people who can't or won't move it themselves.  Many states now require that large items be transported to designated dumping sites, as some garbage pick up services will not haul all items away.  This is were building materials and old kitchen and bath fixtures go (note: there is a demand for matching toilets and sinks in the 50's-70's groovy colors).  They have one dumpster for household items, one for building materials, one for glass, cardboard, etc.  BUT it's illegal to "dive" in a state or county run dump site and most have a staff to make sure everything runs smooth and to keep guys like you out of the dumpster.  But all is not lost . . .  

Confessions From a Habitual Dumpster Diver:

Cruise apartment complexes around the last of the month when people are moving.  A lot of times people will trash great stuff just because they don't won't to move it.

If you have the time, hang out at the regulated dump sites.  No you can't go dumpster diving, but it you see something you like you can ask the person doing the dumping if you can have it before they toss it into the dumpster.  Some of these dumpsites have little barns where people will leave things for other people to take (lamps, old computers, pictures, etc.) Once the area becomes crowded, a staff member will call Goodwill for a pick up or they will toss it in the dumpster.  

Some places like Goodwill have drop-off bins in parking lots, but don't maintain them very well.  Most of the time you just get clothes at these drop offs, but it never hurts to do a drive by.

Many times when a person has a yards sale, they get tired after about 2 hours. They feel they are wasting the day sitting around with their junk, especially when it gets hot, so they will put a big FREE sign out front in hopes people will save them from having to carry their junk to the dump.  

Figure out the trash route for your city.  My trash goes out on Monday night.  There have been times when I drove down the street on Tuesday morning headed to work and stopped to look or pick up something.  I have two beautiful botanical prints framed and matted by Redoute in my bathroom that came out of someone trash.

Check the website www.cyclefree.com.  People are encouraged to post FREE items on this site that could still be used in an effort to control landfills. They advertise what they have online and you go pick it up.  Actually it's a great idea!  

I know people who make great money dumpster diving.  One friend had to claim the extra money on her taxes, $12,000.00 a year . . . . . .for someone else's trash.    Good Luck!

Answer 3

I act real cool, I chill to the max, I may be crazy but I don't pick trash!

Answer 4

Dumpster diving, trash picking is illegal in most areas.

Do it at night and don't scatter things about.