The Art of Dumpster Diving

Dumpster Diving is not for everyone. However, dumpster diving has become very popular, and is considered a great resource by many people. Dumpster diving can also be profitable. You can make money with everything from aluminum cans to items that can be resold at garage sales. Many interesting and unexpected items can be found when diving. You can find anything from furniture and food to computers, televisions and radios.

If you are going in the evening, you are going to need something to light up the dumpster. Some people carry a small flashlight. They attach a cord to it, and then hold it in their teeth to keep their hands free. Others wear a headlamp which you can find them at reasonable prices in the bike area of discount stores. You need something to pull the stuff to you- some kind of pole with a hook at the end. A hoe works. You can also buy long poles that will pick up a quarter in the corner of an empty dumpster. A stepping stool will help you reach over the top. You'll need some bags, whether its trash bags, plastic bags, and duct tape because you can use duct tape for just about anything.

You should look into a dumpster before you simply dive on in. Anyone can throw away a needle that could jab you. Watch out for flimsy lids that may suddenly slam shut when windy. Some great spots include apartment buildings, dumpsters behind any type of stores and perhaps schools. And some general rules include leaving the dumpster better than you found it so those who enjoy this hobby can continue. Don't take paperwork with people's confidential records, it wouldn't be to good if you got caught with those on you. Take only what you can use, and leave the rest for someone else.

You need to try and be in the right place at the right time. Usually late nights or early mornings are the best times to dive. Dumpsters are usually fullest at these times, and you have less chance of a confrontation. Obviously in a residential neighborhood you should wait until the night before scheduled trash pickups. Also, the 7th of the month is a good day for dumpster diving in planned communities in some regions, because those people who haven't paid their rent yet for the previous month will be evicted on the 8th, and they may be in a hurry to just throw stuff out and split. You can find out any other times people get kicked out of places and stuff is left behind. The end of a semester at universities is also good as kids leave for home or wherever and leave lots of goodies behind. For businesses, you'll generally find the best days and times by trial-and-error. Some stores, for example, throw out a lot of things on a certain day. Check online dumpster diving forums, ask other dumpster divers, or even ask friendly store clerks or business owners.

Be smart, be safe, and happy hunting.