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.

814 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:

🍕- 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]

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

🍗 (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.

🍎 🥗 (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).

🍬 🍫 🍭 (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.

👕 👖 🩳 (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.

🛋 🖥 (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.

📚 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.

❓️(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: --------

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

⚙️🔩🔗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.

🔨Tools - 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)

🗑 🚮 🗑 🚮 🗑 🚮 🗑 🚮 🗑 🚮 🗑 🚮 🗑 🚮 🗑 🚮

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

🌟 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 🔒

  1. ... get good at holding your breath while doing cardio 😂

r/DumpsterDiving 14h ago

Finds like this are the reason why I can't stop 🤣🤣🤣

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278 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 10h ago

Spontaneous dumpster check by highway dept.

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88 Upvotes

I guess the bought new drill bits and decided to just throw these out… made my partner so excited. Winning!


r/DumpsterDiving 10h ago

Huge Bath and Body Works haul!!!!! Jackpot!!!!!

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79 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 13h ago

Dumpster sourced breakfast of champions!

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119 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 4h ago

was going to w8 to post in the morn but I’m so geeked so I’ll just show my fav things

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19 Upvotes

The Mickey & Bambi are the only ones w/o water damage or a crack in the glass. I adore all, but prob gonna toss the lady and the tramp poster, keep the frame and gift the others to any family or friend that wants. Debating on keeping the Pooh one tho. Box full of flowers as well. Small portion were wilting, mostly they were just smushed. This gave me the opp to do sumn I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now. I handed out 2 small bouquets to grandpas & dads w/ a note saying“most men don’t get their 1st bouquet until they’re dead, we’re changing that...” [Reverse side] “2 bouquets, keep all, or feel free to gift one or combine both and pass them on, spread joy” we only gave out a few the rest we do tomorrow. I can’t wait 🥰


r/DumpsterDiving 13h ago

Why do people do this

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49 Upvotes

Just went to my local farm foods bins in the UK and found it like this

I wear gloves for going thru shop bins usually because there's almost always liquids spilled or something so I tidied up what I could ...

I just don't understand why someone would do this:/


r/DumpsterDiving 10h ago

Awesome find at Five Below only second day ever dumpster diving!

14 Upvotes

Found this awesome karaoke speaker in the dumpster labeled as returned damaged. It works fine as a Bluetooth speaker and a radio came with two working microphones and a charging cord. Literally nothing wrong with it and it shoots little light up water shoots.


r/DumpsterDiving 12h ago

My newest items...

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18 Upvotes

I scored more items from my apartment dumpster tonight... A Minnie Mouse chair that converts into a table. A Minnie Mouse mirror and table combo that's in perfect working condition!

Dumpster diving never ceases to amaze me. My kiddo loves it. Of course I disinfect everything.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

My favorite score so far!

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263 Upvotes

I’ve been looking for a sturdier rack to hold our extra pantry items bc our garage shelves are failing. I don’t have extra money right now so I was making do. I happened to spot this next to the dumpster of a convenience store down the street. It’s super sturdy and in perfect condition. I’m thrilled!


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

All of this one bag

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1.0k Upvotes

Legit grabbed one bag


r/DumpsterDiving 9h ago

Yogurt Haul, Frozen Yogurt All Winter Long

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1 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 17h ago

any good stores/restaurants to dive for vegetarian foods yall know of?

3 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

More pictures once I organize

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81 Upvotes

First time I've had a hall here and holy crap I filled up my entire car with miscellaneous household decorations, this giant gold dragon statue, a couple Kate Spade purses, lots kitchen wear aaaaand disco ball candles! Knickknacks galore lol.

Feeling grateful, however, the amount of things that were intentionally broken was insurmountable and honestly disheartening.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

First haul I’m actually keeping for myself 🥰

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142 Upvotes

I always donate everything we can’t use up, but this haul is totally up my alley! Merry Christmas to me! Good karma pays off 🙏 Tea set, pink tin heart ornaments, cleaning sprays, body wash, candles, frames, and a sterling silver bear cookie jar!


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

art of the dumpster

25 Upvotes


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Dollar Tree find

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135 Upvotes

Got a lot of storage bags, which is great. Most of the boxes are just open, don’t look like anything is really missing. Also got parchment paper. Two aluminum pans that sent broken, I’ll probably use them “as is” so not to break them. Also got a Snow White hand towel.


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Are these chairs worth grabbing?

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80 Upvotes

Outside of my work


r/DumpsterDiving 23h ago

Check out this chill come up!

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1 Upvotes

I usually find some great trash I mean treasures lol I just wish I had a partner to enjoy it with 😅


r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Found someone's BlizzCon lanyard.

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23 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Anyone had luck with Michael's or Joanne's craft stores?

28 Upvotes

There's a huge Michael's in my town and they shift and change their inventory SO often. Like almost every week. Do you think they're throwing it in dumpsters or is it stored in the back?? Anyone tried to get into their dumpsters?


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

FDA escalates recall of Costco eggs to include risks of 'severe illness or death'

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78 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 1d ago

Two La Creusets left at the dumpster by my work today.

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1 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

How much money do you think you've saved with DD?

28 Upvotes

r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Let’s talk about Big Lots and Party City

17 Upvotes

Is ANYONE out there finding anything? I’ve been checking my locations regularly and it seems like everything is being loaded in the liquidation truck. BUT- maybe there’s more to trash as the true end is near? So far, just finding signage, unloaded gift cards, and trash.


r/DumpsterDiving 2d ago

Costco Egg Recall

52 Upvotes