Dumpster diving has become one of the most lucrative activities that some people can do. Considering how much food is wasted every day, it’s not surprising that more and more people are now dumpster diving.
But, dumpster diving can be dangerous, and you certainly don’t want to go dumpster diving in places that won’t give you enough goods or foods. Here I have the solution for you. I have gathered some places where you can go to dumpster dive, be safe while doing it, and get enough to survive.
What can you expect to find from dumpster diving?
Dumpsters are large trash cans with many kinds of garbage tossed into them. But, if you dumpster dive at a specific place, then you could get certain items that are sold at that place.
Expect items such as foods, decorations, toys, electronics, furniture, cosmetics, and clothes. The list goes on and on, especially if you’re dumpster diving at a large retail store.
Best places to go dumpster diving
Obviously, there are many places where you can go dumpster diving. And the better the area or neighborhood is, the more chances you can get something good.
Rich neighborhood
Let’s start with probably the best area to dumpster dive. Rich neighborhoods and communities tend to throw away perfectly usable items. You might not get enough food this way, but some items can be used or sold at a decent price.
You might find enough appliances, furniture, and other items that are perfectly usable. If you want to do dumpster diving in a rich neighborhood, you should do it before the garbage pickup comes. Also, make sure that you’re not trespassing into private areas.
Apartments
Dumpster diving in apartments is less predictable than in rich neighborhoods. But, it’s not uncommon for people to find almost new appliances thrown away. I’ve seen people found new TV, speakers, and other small appliances.
This happens because some people can’t bother to bring their appliances before moving out. So they prefer to just throw them away.
Supermarkets
Supermarkets are throwing away a lot of food and other items every night before they close. During some days, you can have massive hauls with items such as clothes, laundry soaps, hair products, furniture, foods, and drinks.
Check out nearby supermarkets from time to time and see if it’s a good chance to dumpster dive or not. It might not be too often, but chances are you get some expensive items.
Tech stores
Tech stores such as Staples and Best Buy are the two best places to go dumpster diving. Obviously, you can get many electronic items, some will be in great condition. Sometimes you’ll also find office chairs with minor scratches here and there, modems, cables, Bluetooth headphones, and hundreds of blank DVDs.
If you’re lucky, you can get expensive electronics such as Kindle, smartphones, and other luxury gadgets. Some won’t work at all, while others are used but still work perfectly.
Flower shop
Sometimes people dumpster dive just for some niche items they can get. At a flower shop, you can get flowers that you can give to a special someone. With some luck, you can get some flowers that are in good shape and still smell nice. Many florists throw away flowers that almost past the freshest state, so use this chance to dumpster dive.
College dormitories
Do you know that many students throw away a lot of stuff at the end of the school year or semester? So instead of carrying their stuff home, they just throw them away. You can find stuff like clothes, small furniture, books, bags, shoes, and other accessories. Plan your next dumpster dive schedule right after the school year ends, and you can get a lot of stuff.
Retail stores
One of the best places to go dumpster diving is a retail store. Just like other big stores, retail stores tend to throw away a bunch of stuff that is broken and slightly damaged. Because retail stores don’t want to sell these items since they’re going to get returned anyway.
Retail stores would also throw away returned products and items if the packaging is already open and the items can’t be reshelved. Dumpster diving at retail stores at the right time could net you a massive haul.
Grocery stores
Dumpster diving at grocery stores is not for everyone. Because you’ll have to deal with spoiled food. The smell can be too much for most people. But sometimes, grocery stores throw away frozen and processed foods that are about to expire because they don’t want people to buy them.
These frozen foods are still edible and safe to eat even weeks or months after the expiration date. The same goes with chocolate bars and candies, and other packed goods. Many people are dumpster diving at grocery stores solely for their frozen and processed foods.
How to dumpster dive properly
Dumpster diving is difficult and risky. You should always be careful to break any laws and keep yourself safe. Here are some tips to dumpster dive properly:
Do not break any laws
Some dumpster divers got into trouble with the law because they trespassed and made too much noise. While dumpster diving is mostly legal, you shouldn’t catch too much attention, especially from the cops. So don’t jump any fences and trespass private areas, and don’t make too much noise.
Protect yourself
Dumpster diving can be dangerous for your health, so you must always wear protective clothing each time you go dumpster diving. Make sure your body is fully covered; wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a pair of boots or tough shoes, gloves, and glasses, or a mask. It’s also recommended going with at least one more person. Going alone just adds more risks that you don’t want to take.
Don’t leave a mess
As I said, you don’t want to attract too much attention. If you leave a mess every time you dumpster dive, it’ll be more difficult for you to go to the same location again. Always leave no mess after you’re done dumpster diving, which means you must put everything back inside the dumpster just like how it was originally.
Stay safe out there
Dumpster diving might be lucrative for some people, but I can’t deny the risks involved can be too great. If you’ve been following the tips in this article, always make sure you don’t break any laws. Get what you need and leave without making a mess.