Dumpster Diving, Common Practice for Some

Dumpster Diving is defined as - Sifting through Trash bins for items

It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to purposely dive into a trash dumpster but many people do it regularly. It is not the people that you would think would be dumpster diving to survive on the streets or is the homeless people it could very well be your neighbors. This is becoming a popular hobby for many people. It is done by people that could afford to purchase items but choose to dive for treasures.

Commercial dumpsters at the locations of restaurants and retail stores are the most popular places to dumpster dive. Grocery stores are not allowed to sell items past the date printed on the packages and sometimes will discard these items a few days in advance of the expiration date on the packages. These are still usable and still sealed in the packages that are not tampered with. This makes the food very safe to eat, but the store instead chose to write it off of the books, and throw it out. This is great for dumpster divers who can stock up on good food for free.

Retail stores live departments stores and pharmacies also throw out many useful items. If the box is dented, or the date on over the counter medication has expired it gets thrown out. These again are still packaged in the original packages with the seals still in tact. Anything the store may sell is subjected to be thrown out and becomes items for dumpster diving.

There are groups now that meet regularly that will discuss their strategies and locations and go out in the groups at nights to go dumpster diving. They will visit several locations after hours and stock up on may items then split for the group or donate to a local charity for less fortunate people.

While dumpster diving can be illegal in many places because the dumpster is located on private property, this doesn't stop allot of people from dumpster diving. Once someone discards an item, it becomes fair game to dumpster divers. Since most of the trash containers are located in the back of the premises it is often poorly lit, and easy to access.

Dumpster divers aren't limited to just the trash containers at retail outlets, trash placed on the side of the street is also available for people to stop and throw the trash in their vehicle to take home and reuse. Still, the most common place to dumpster dive is in the trash containers behind retail stores.