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CTC Readers' Poll:
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"Love
this topic!
I have no problem with dumpster diving. First of all, I was raised in an environment where other people's trash was fair game. My Dad and I regularly drove around town on trash night and searched for treasure. It was a game back then, but Dad often found furniture that he would refinish and repair. I have a rocking horse that my Dad made for me for Christmas when I was four. He found a discarded wooden carousel horse (I wasn't with him so I don't know where). As the story goes, the horse was missing one leg. My Dad had to make a new leg for it, sand it down to bare wood and refinish it. He painted it black and white because all the animals I colored in coloring books I made black and white. The tail and mane were made from silk thread, he made a leather saddle and padded it, leather reins made from an old belt, the eyes were ball bearings. The frame he had to build. I still have this rocking horse and I've had it for 50 years! Needless to say, I have kept up with the family tradition and regularly hunt down treasures." ~ Kris "I live in an apartment complex in a college town. These college kids, most from affluent families, throw perfectly good items away. What a waste! My philosophy is, if they're crazy enough to discard good stuff, I'm crazy enough to retrieve it -- everything from stereo speakers to a Martha Stewart shower curtain. Semester's end, when everyone moves out, is the best time to find 'treasure.' I just finished reading several mystery novels someone left on top of the trash dumpster and really enjoyed them all! The ickiest thing I ever retrieved was a large casserole dish and lid. It had dried on, moldy macaroni and cheese in it. Apparently, some kid had left it in the refrigerator too long and didn't want to clean such a disgusting mess. It was a nice Corningware pattern -- it'd be very expensive in the nice department stores. I took it out, held my nose, scraped out the contents, and washed and sterilized it real good. I've used it for several years now and no one's ever gotten sick. Just don't tell the folks at the church covered dish supper the origins of my casserole dish!" ~ Lynn
"We used to live near a
upscale college student apartment complex. Each summer these
students took off for home and literally dumped half their
belongings in the dumpster because they wouldn't fit in the truck
of their car for the trip home. We picked up name brand clothing,
furniture, appliances, and tons of fun stuff too. We generally
didn't dig too far but if we saw something good we would grab
it." ~ Sandy "It's funny that this is the question of the week. My husband just cleaned up a plastic three-drawer storage unit that I picked up on trash day in my neighborhood a few weeks ago. He is a teacher and always needs more storage space in his classroom, so when I saw this gem at the curb, I told my son to hop right out of our van and snag it. It is brand-name and still had the casters in the plastic bag, never used. And I'm pretty sure it came from the same house where I picked up a 7-foot wooden trellis for our garden a few months ago! Can't wait to see what this neighbor puts out at the curb this week.." ~ MaryAnn, Bradenton, FL
"I have gone dumpster
diving behind cabinet shops, a gift importer, garden nursery
/floral shop and even the wooded area behind a cemetery. I
regularly get odd sizes of trim, sawdust (for the garden) and
other wood pieces I use for various projects from the cabinet
shop. The importer often discards odd and ends still in
the boxes. If I have no purpose for the found items then
I donate them to charity. The garden nursery usually
discards 'questionable plants.' I have a better than 50%
survival rate and I just use them as I can. Behind one of our
cemeteries (they only allow flat ground markers) the
employees throw out any plants, planters, etc. I have
retrieved plants (again a 50% survival), planters that I bring
to the greenhouse that our adult disability group runs, and
sometimes a flag that my sons boyscout troop retires properly.
I NEVER INTERFERE WITH
BUSINESS HOURS OR LEAVE A MESS. If I am in the
business area at an off hour I will look.
Be aware that dumpsters can
have dangerous and unsanitary items. Do not open if the
dumpster is marked as such. Many business owners put up
no trespassing signs. Be mindful that in some cities
this can earn you a ticket from the police department." ~
LB, Georgia
"I think saving something from the dump is a good thing. I have retrieved many things from the roadside before the trash pick up truck." ~ Sue in FL
"I hate that dumpster diving
brings on such negative connotations for some people.
Why would anyone want to see perfectly good things go to a
landfill? I don't have time to seek out perfectly good
dumpsters, but anyone's trash sitting on the curb is fair
game. Some of our greatest finds have been several Goosebumps
books, an entire Alphabet Encyclopedia (books entitled The
Letter A, The Letter B, etc. which is a beginning reading
program), a beautiful wall mirror, a steam iron, and our
family room end tables. If we can't use the items we
find, they go to Goodwill or a local shelter so someone can
get some use out of them." ~ Shawn in Kentucky
"We lived on an air force base in Germany for about 6 years. During that time we dumpster dived on base. I decorated my house with art, oriental rugs, and many books. I also had overflowing closets. You were only allowed to bring back so much and after your yard sale, you threw out what didn't sell. Most people didn't know that there was an Airmen's Attic on base. This was for people of a certain rank and below. You could go there and get things for free each week. Our dumpster diving included taking things there that we couldn't use or we didn't know someone that could use them. I remember one time we found a garbage bag full of nice (expensive) little girls' clothes. We only had boys but I knew a family that only had one little girl among 4 boys. Her mother was thrilled with the clothes." ~ FB
"As a single parent, I am
amazed at the things people will throw out in the trash. I used to
have a newspaper route. So I frequently saw choice items along my
route at night and would stop and retrieve the items at the
curbside. Sometimes the apartment complexes would have someone
moving out and would drop off a load of usable items in the trash.
If I personally can't use an item or know of someone who needs it,
I will take the item up to the thrift store and donate it.
One year I came across 5 vacuums (at different times) that were good to go once I either bought a new belt, removed a clog in the line, or other small maintenance repairs. Several other needy families were helped by the donations of a vacuum. Another time I needed a dehumidifier and was setting aside $200 in my budget for one. Then God provided one in the trash at an apartment complex! I took it home and it worked perfectly without any repairs. I got my first CD player out of someone's trash. I have rescued many laundry baskets full of baby and children's clothes that were just thrown out when the baby/child outgrew them. Lamps, dressers, tables, chairs, a love seat and couch, a desk, TV and TV stand, clothes, even unopened Lego bionicles still in the package are just a few of the things I've 'redeemed.' Everything either worked fine or needed a small repair to make the item useable. Usually glue and a screw or two would fix the dressers, tables, chairs and love seat. A new switch for the lamps ($2-3) and they would be as good as new, and usually the shades were in great shape too. I even found a nice Sieko self-winding watch that my kids were able to gift to their father for Christmas one year when he needed one. We prayed over it before giving it to him and asked God to remind Daddy that we missed 'time' with him and that his 'time' would not run out before Daddy asked Jesus into his heart and that we could have more 'time' with Daddy when he returns home to us from his season as a prodigal. He really appreciated it, and even though he hasn't returned home - yet - we still pray that his 'time' won't run out!" ~ Denice
"The best time to dumpster
dive in my town is right after an estate auction. You know how
at an auction, if the auctioneer can't get a bid on a particular
item or box of 'junk', he just lumps it in with the next item.
The the person who wanted the second item ends us with the 'junk'
too. Well, after the auction is over and people have collected
their bargains to take home, they often leave the 'junk' in or
near the dumpster at the auction site. I have found some great
discarded things like picture frames, shelving, books, a lamp,
and a chair that I plan to recover. I am a little embarrassed
about this hobby. I usually try to be quick and make sure there
aren't too many people around. And my husband is the only one
who knows where I get these things. I just tell others, 'I got
them for free.'" ~ Grace
"We live in a rural setting so
we don't have many chances to dumpster dive but we do drive through
a neighborhood/ subdivision on the way to our house. Very often
people put items on the curb to be picked up by the garbage
collectors. Any time we see a good article we stop and pick it up.
Most of the time we go up to the door and ask first but if they are
not at home we usually just take it. We have gotten anything from a
42-inch TV to large pieces of cardboard to bread machines to large
toys, etc. We have spent the summer having yard sales to raise money
to adopt a special needs child from overseas so if there is anything
saleable, we stop and pick it up. Often we give the owners a
pamphlet about us and our daughter and some have even given us more
items they were going to take to a thrift shop. I admit it does make
it easier to retrieve these items for her sake than for mine, but I
decided if this is how God is going to provide for me then I'm not
going to be too proud to take it." ~ Kathy
"Until a couple of years ago, our community had large trash week pick up. People tossed furniture, dishes, bicycles, old Christmas ornaments -- you name it. It was a very friendly affair. I was adding onto the boy's tree fort at the time and found people willingly dragged wood out of their garages for the cause. We put our good stuff out as well. Anything not taken went to the local thrift store. Great sport. And to think all these useful things would have ended up in landfills." ~ Anonymous "Thank you for posting a question to which I can respond! AND, thank you for your hard work on Counting the Cost. Yes, I dumpster dive. I support
a low income senior retirement community. Anytime I am near a shoe
store, I check in w/the employees and ask if there are any good,
sturdy, boxes-with-lids that I might take to the seniors. I do the
same thing for smaller boxes/containers at stationary stores. Many
of the seniors cannot afford to shop, have mobility issues and
cannot get around to shop, etc. Both the shoe boxes and stationary
boxes are helpful in to the residents. My condo community also places good-conditioned clothing, shoes, purses, pots, etc. on top of the recycling bins and anyone who passes by is allowed to take the items. Whatever the seniors can use goes to them; what can't be used, I sell at a consignment shop and use the proceeds to buy clothes, towels, the occasional painting, etc. to take to the seniors." ~ Sean "Yes, I am guilty of 'dumpster diving.' A lot of the time people will put things out to the side of the trash so people (like myself who keep a lookout for such opportunities) can take it for themselves. I recently found a large cat condo tree. It was in fairly good condition and only needed a little vacuuming and a little bit of a trim where the previous cats had scratched at the base and the carpet fibers had come loose. It has been great for my 5 cats (I know, I'm a cat lady). This would typically run in the $150-$250 range! Other things I have picked up are plants, pots, a children's bike, a small playhouse for my kids, and just lots of fun stuff. Sometimes I feel bad for doing it and feel like a scrounge, but then I think that people are throwing it away and I'm helping recycle. Otherwise it would just add to our already overflowing landfills. Plus it's free which saves me money! I LOOOOOVE to save money!" ~ Becky, Spring, TX
P.S.
I LOVE Counting the Cost! Thanks! I always look forward to
reading it!
"I'm working on my PhD so my husband and I live in an apartment complex with mostly students. People are always moving in and out so we find things quite frequently in or around our dumpster. We are amazed at what people will throw away, especially since the local thrift stores will come pick up donations. We have found three bookshelves, one desk, two sets of metal shelves (that work great for my pantry!), 100 plastic hangers, a drying rack, a fold-up camping table, a lead crystal vase, a wicker coffee table, a desk chair, and numerous books that we donated to our community ministry. Even today there were two plastic chairs and plastic shelves in the dumpster. If the shelves are still in the dumpster when I get home they will be my new set of pantry shelves tonight!" ~ Kristi
"Of course I do!
it's another form of recycling, stopping things from ending up
in landfill that still have life & use in them. I
wander around my neighbourhood on garbage day, check out
dumpsters I pass etc.... I'm not real serious about it.
My favourite dumpsters are the ones that big stores have in
the spring with discarded plants in them. The plants can often
be rescued and go on to live a long happy life. For plants, or
books and magazines, I have actually gotten into the
dumpsters, but I would never crawl around in icky-sticky
stuff. And yes, I would take sealed food, if the container could
be washed. In my city, people normally put out stuff like
furniture, etc., a day or so before garbage day, so other
people have a chance to take it. Once a year, the city
sponsors a 'Treasure Hunt' day when everyone is encouraged to
put things they don't want at the end of their driveways
for others to take." ~ Ellen
"I don't know about
actual dumpster diving, but I had a great find on trash day!
Some one had put an old bass drum out for the trash pickup.
I snagged that up faster that you could blink! I
cleaned it up and purchased a piece of round glass for a top
and put non-scratch pads on the silver parts of the drum.
Viola! Instant table. But It gets better. I placed inside
the hole in the backside of the drum an adjustable light so
now the table has some ambiance and even more character all
for about $22. The glass cost $20 and the light cost
$2 at Goodwill. It fits in perfectly in our music room with
the piano, guitars and violins." ~ CB in Columbus, Ohio
"About two years ago, I stopped at a neighbor’s house where he was cleaning out his garage. On the curb he had placed a Little Tykes rider car. I asked if he was throwing it out. He was, but said I could have it if I wanted it. I loaded the car into my vehicle (the fourth wheel fell off as I was loading it). I brought it home and asked my husband if he could fix it. A codder pin and a little elbow grease later, it ran as good as new. That car has gotten so much mileage!! My girls absolutely love it! I am so glad I swallowed my pride and stopped and asked." ~ Jen "My husband works at a apartment complex where tenants move in and out frequently. We liken the dumpster to a big bin of blessings. Recently my vacuum cleaner went on the fritz and within days my husband brought home a Hoover upright with fold-away handle. All that was needed was a new belt and filter minimal cost to replace and repair. Last year I had a yard sale of usable items from the dumpster that weren't my taste and netted $300.00. This was used for vacation fund." ~ Margy
"In response to your
dumpster diving question, yes I used to do it when I lived
in the Bay area. San Ramon used to have the dump trucks come
around once a month so the houses would put their stuff out
to be picked up. I did pick up a few things since I worked
in San Ramon, but a lot of people would come around with
their pick-ups early in the morning and load it full from
different stops.
Those people had money but just didn't want to take it to a charity shop which was really a shame since the stuff they put out for pick-up was so nice. At least some people got the use of the good stuff anyway rather than it being buried in a dump somewhere. I live in N. California now and nobody does that. I miss it as I picked up some really nice things that were almost new." ~ Helen "Now you have to
promise not to tell ANYONE!! No, I am just joking. I have
dived into a 'dumpster' so to speak on more than one
occasion and I'd like to think I have inherited the knack
from my mother!
"YES, I
surely have!" ~ Monty
Editor's Note: Thanks to all these readers who took time to write! |
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