How to Dumpster Dive For Treasure
I have found over $1,000 dollars worth of used stuff in dumpsters this year, and the tally keeps going up! From inflatable water slides to ping-pong tables and jogger strollers to lumber. Some of the stuff I have found could easily be sold to pawn shops and eBay. If you are brave enough to do it and don't mind the occasional smell, then you've come to the right place to learn how to dumpster dive for treasure.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Finding the best dumpsters is the most important step in the process. Many retail stores have enclosed trash compactors that cannot be accessed, but even these stores have a surplus of stuff they have to get rid of and will have an occasional rental dumpster on the premises. You will need to drive around town and visit the local stores on a regular basis to find out which locations throw away the best loot and when their dumpsters are fullest. Saturday and Sunday is usually when the dumpsters are loaded. Get a city map and start keeping track of your dumpster diving route. Eventually you will begin noticing when the best times are to do your diving. Seasons play a big part too! After holidays are when a lot of items are returned and many stores have policies having to throw away returns. If you are looking for carpet or construction materials you will need to find industrial parts of town and then scout out the situations to see if the dumpsters have easy access.
-
2
Looting the dumpster without getting caught is key. Make sure there are no surveillance cameras looking down on the dumpster location. Dumpsters are usually located behind the stores and out of sight, but police cars often patrol these out of the way locations and so be on the watch out for the law. There may be no trespassing laws in your area against dumpster diving, so understand these before jumping in. Weekends are the best time, because most businesses are closed and so your plundering usually goes unnoticed. Once you start figuring out the best spots to get materials, start hauling it to the pawn shop or set up shop on eBay, and you'll be making money in no time.
-
-
3
Dumpster diving safety should always be of your utmost concern. I jumped into a dumpster once with flip flops and shorts on and now have a beautiful scar across my leg due to a broken glass vase popping up and biting me. Just like the pirates of old there are still unseen dangers lurking below the surface. It's a good idea to have someone on the outside of the dumpster to help handle the goods. Many dumpsters are over 7 feet high and it can be tricky getting stuff out of them. If you have a pickup truck that will be your best bet. Back the truck up as close as you can get to the dumpster and load the goods accordingly. I put my goods on top of my SUV and then strap them to my roof rack. Make sure you have bungees and straps to hold your treasures down during transit. Wear a good pair of shoes and long pants. Gloves are a good idea too and if you're working at night then use a head lamp to free up your hands. You might want to use boots that protect your legs better. Have a first aid kit on hand for dressing any wounds and always look into the dumpster before diving in. Don't forget that there are all sorts of dangerous items in a dumpster, but if you can sift through the junk you will find the treasures.
-
4
The last thing I'm going to say about diving is beware of another dumpster divers turf. As the economy continues to go down hill dumpster divers around the world will have more and more competition. Just remember that there is plenty of junk to go around and we don't need to act like a bunch of seagulls.
-
1
More Like This
Comments
-
why tell more and more of the world ower trick...and like you sed the store has to throw it out! cant be tresure! unless it is a! mistake! that will happen less and less (with owners) and the ecomony bolting down! all I see is the stuff that is broken that had no hope(to owner,,,, money makers!)
