Dumpster Diving and Garbage Gleaning
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
January 13, 2007 5:06pm CST
Last year, we renovated our basement. In doing so, we ended up putting out a lot more trash each week than we normally would. Well, one night, I noticed several lights out front, through the living room curtains, and was stunned to see no less than three vans lined up along the front of my yard. People were out there, some with their kids, opening up all our boxes, untying bags, everything, and running back and forth to their trucks, tossing in what they'd found. In fact, in our area, we have several guys that do this on a weekly basis because they run flea markets and they will take anything they figure they can re-sell.
At first, I thought "why not?"... at least someone was making use of things that we didn't need any more and I left them to it. I had already donated a lot of things but was running out of places that would take what I had left. But then, I looked out later and was furious! These people left a HUGE MESS all over my front yard. As they rummaged through my boxes, they threw things on the lawn in order to get to the bottom of a box. They didn't even bother to clean up what they didn't take. This practice of "garbage gleaning" is actually against the by-laws in our town but people do it all the time.
Does this happen where you live? How do you feel about it?
17 people like this
36 responses
@trulysnuggable (422)
• United States
14 Jan 07
I dont have this problem where I live, but have you heard of the website www.freecycle.org? Its a great website that you can post things you are wanting to get rid of, and might even find something you need. If you have donated things, and dont want to take anything else, or they dont have room for more stuff, then I think you should try freecycle. As the saying goes...one mans trash is another mans treasure. Good luck, Hopefully you wont have a mess next time.
@trulysnuggable (422)
• United States
14 Jan 07
Your welcome. I hope you can find a site near you and it will help out.
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
Thank you for posting the website, trulysnuggable! It's great when we can share resources here, especially those that can really be of help to other people :)
4 people like this
@SarahEC (545)
• United States
13 Jan 07
Well, people around our neighborhood are constantly taking stuff out of the garbage if they think it is worth something. It makes me somewhat irritated, but oh well, what can you do. I've had a trash can full of pop cans and even a broken down vacuum stolen from my garbage! lol. Some people will stoop so low. But, I have heard of people actually salvaging furniture and such, so in that case, I think it is okay.
4 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
13 Jan 07
LOL! I had a cruddy old gas barbecue taken one time and thought, if you can fix THAT thing up, more power to ya! ;)
I think it's great if people can salvage things they can use! We throw away too much "stuff" as it is and the recycling aspect is good for everyone. As I said, I did try to give away as much as I could and was surprised that so many places I called had a laundry list of reasons for not accepting donations.
I just got upset because they treated our property with such disrespect. It was so much work to get all that stuff boxed up and out to the curb in a manner that the trash collectors would actually take it and then we had to go back and clean it all up after their "visit." sighhhhhh
@SarahEC (545)
• United States
14 Jan 07
I guess luckily for me I had people that just took it all and didn't leave any mess behind. lol. Some of the people in my area are somewhat sketchy, so it doesn't surprise me that they took a vacuum that was held together with a metal hanger. And my ten dollars worth of cans. lol.
@hopelessinil (3)
• United States
9 Feb 07
When I go garbage picking I always try to clean up after myself because I don't want the police to stop us from being able to do it.
The only time I have had the police stop me was when we would go behind some of the stores and check out there trash. Found many new items that the boxes were badly damaged but the thing inside was still good.
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
14 Jan 07
Wow! How incredibly rude of those people to make a mess of your yard and just leave it that way. I don't know if such practices are illegal here in Missouri, but I don't believe that anyone has been doing it. I also wouldn't mind someone taking our trash if they thought they could use it, though, as long as they would not make a mess like you said. That is absolutely downright wrong, and rude, and there must be something that the police can do if they keep it up? I would hate to turn people in, but what they did wasn't nice at all.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
That's how I felt, shywolf. I know people here that will run outside and actually yell at someone for going through their trash. I would NEVER do that! Who knows the reason someone's looking, in the first place, and why should it matter? If you don't want or need the items anymore, let someone else have them. I'm more than fine with that. I just expect the same courtesy in return.
In fact, the guy from up the street whose daughter took a doll, he looked in my trash every week for about the next month, as he walked by on his way to the bus stop, and that was in broad daylight LOL I guess she really liked it :)
2 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
15 Jan 07
wow. I wouldn't know what to do if I saw that happening in my yard. I really wouldn't care for anyone having anything of my trash that they felt they could use, but I would expect them to clean their mess before leaving! I agree with the previous poster that to perhaps but anything that you have a remote idea could be useful to someone in a separate box and mark it as 'free' or 'help yourself.' Of course, they still may feel the need to look into other containers assuming there is something more that they might like too!
4 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
15 Jan 07
You know, I actually think that's what started the whole thing... I saw a guy put some things in his van and, after that, he started opening boxes. One box, he took a quick look, moved a few things around and then just put the whole thing in the van too! I thought, "what if I would have had rotten food in the bottom of that box?!" LOL
3 people like this
@sweetee (420)
• Australia
14 Jan 07
We have recycle collection days a few times a year, where you can put virtually anything out (there are rules though) and the council will come pick it up for free.
It is illegal for people to take things from the nature strip, but people do it anyway.. I don't mind people taking things to be honest, especially when it is furniture and the like - i figure they might need it. But what ever isn't taken by the time the council comes, is taken by the council...
Perhaps next time you see someone out there,just go out and explain you don't mind them rummaging - however when they are done, you would appreciate if they put things back the way they were..
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
15 Jan 07
You're right, sweetee... based on this particular experience, I'm definitely going to be proactive and call out there from now on, if I have a large amount of stuff on the curb. I mean, I regularly have people check through the trash since that incident happened, but I also haven't had as large a number of items as I did when we were renovating. If it's just a few trash cans or bags, they definitely don't leave so much of a mess.... thankfully :)
3 people like this
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
14 Jan 07
I admit, I have garbage gleaned a few times my self, usually furniture or outdoor stuff. I have also put things out on the curb specifically for the GG-s in our neighborhood; there are a couple of guys who drive around and pick up appliances and scrap metal, saves me from having to call the city to pick it up and earns them a few bucks. However I would also be totally mad if someone trashed my yard going thru my trash. I think that anything thrown in a can with a lid on it is off limits, only things that are set to the side or in boxes with "free" written on them should be considered "up for grabs".
4 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
THAT's what I should have done, theproperator! I should have set aside some stuff with a sign of some sort that said "free" or "help yourself".... yeesh! That makes perfect sense. From now on, if I have any big items, I think I'll do that.
3 people like this
@zuri25 (2125)
• United States
14 Jan 07
I'm all for recycling and reusing what other people would just as soon throw out, but if you're going to ransack someone's garbage (quite conspicuously I might add) then at least have the decency and respect to clean up your mess. And the fact that it's technically against the laws of your town just makes it all the more important that they "cover their tracks" so to speak. I'd be angry and disgusted too.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Jan 07
I don't have a problem normally with people taking things from the garbage. I know I have at times when I see something I need and it's in decent shape. however when they make a mess like that, it's a whole other story. There is no reason for it. If they want to rummage through boxes and bags then they should have just taken it all with them and did it on their own time and property. I would never think of opening stuff up to look through it like that, let alone leave it all over another's lawn. That is not only rude it's disrespectful. They should have known better then to do that.
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
See, that's the thing... sometimes really decent items can be had for free this way. I mean, let's say you have a talent for painting. You could get a great wooden chair that someone else doesn't need and do something amazing with it. I think that's a super idea and makes a whole lot of sense. But, like you, I'd never open someone else's trash bag.. I just couldn't.
2 people like this
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
14 Jan 07
People do this to me ALL the time. It's so aggervating. When we moved in, we had 100's of boxes with trash in them lined up where our trash gets put out. Got up the next morning and it looked like someone slammed their car into the entire pile. Everything was EVERYWHERE. I was so freaking mad!! The least they could do for getting all that free stuff is NOT leave a HUGE mess!!!
I've went dumpster diving before. At the mall, behind Bath and Body works. We pulled out over $100,000 worth of stuff over the course of 3 days and about 30 trips, and took it all down to the mission center and donated it. That is nonsense that they don't do that themselves!! WHY waste all those products when there are plenty of people who can use them!!!! It made me mad, but when we started handing them out, it made me very happy that I was there seeing people being thankful!
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
OMG Stephanie!!!!!! THAT much merchandise was just thrown away? Unbelievable!
My husband used to work in restaurants when he was younger and he said he was amazed at how much untouched food gets trashed, rather than being able to give it away or even letting the employees take it home or something. For instance, when he worked at a Hardee's, they would make the cinnamon raisin buns for breakfast. Whatever wasn't sold was thrown in the trash. He said that it had to be counted as "waste" and documented for the company so they could keep track. But jeez... perfectly good food in a trash can? sighhhhhh
I know there are restaurants now that actually donate their food at the end of the night to collection services that then take it to missions... I think that's a MUCH better idea!
3 people like this
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
16 Jan 07
Yes, isn't that aweful!!! Why do they do that? I think it should be manadtory for all the companies to give away their unsold/uneaten/unused merchandise! There are too many people out there that work full time and still cannot afford these things! It's such a waste, it makes me sick!
I was told it's all about taxes. Well, there is definetly something wrong with our country if we penalize people for giving stuff away. That's insane!
1 person likes this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
14 Jan 07
They still do it but not the way they used to. Many years ago when I lived in Philadelphia EVERYBODY went dumpster diving on trash night. It was a happening every Thurs. (I think it was Thurs) night before the trash got picked up on Friday morning. People would often put out large pieces of furniture that they knew the trash guys wouldn't pick up in the hopes that some dumpster diving kid would want it for a new apartment. And they were usually right. It was like a big party. Someone would cart along a sixpack and trade a drink for half a sandwich or hoagie from someone else. A third person would have some chips. People would be all over the street partying and checking out the trash. I don't remember why it all stopped (Maybe the divers just grew up) but I do remember that we were always very careful to leave things neat and tidy. I don't recall any mess being left around and it's a shame that happened to you. It's true what they say "One man's trash is another man's treasure" but a mess is just a mess and that ruins the whole thing.
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
That sounds like a lot of FUN! Pretty much an impromptu weekly swap meet! LOL It's true that there are things that trash collectors won't or can't take and you sometimes don't have a good way to get rid of them. Those people certainly found a great way to do it :)
2 people like this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
14 Jan 07
I wouldn't normally do this. I have seen some good throw-outs from time to time. Sometimes, items are like new and I admit I have picked up a few. I think in the average community this is a commom occurence.
Rummmaging through someone's garbage and then leaving a mess is a no-no in my book. Maybe you could post a sign saying you will call the authorities if a mess is left. Then again, most people doing this sort of thing are usually trying to survive. It is actually a job for them. Next thing you know, they will want you to provide benifits for them...lol
This is a tough call. Maybe you could put out most of this stuff the day of collection and not the night before. It is a reflection that old saying...one man's garbage...you know.
3 people like this
@jmintuck (114)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
I dumpster dive sometimes when it,s nice out.I,ll tell you something that you ALL will get a kick out of!
One time, a friend of mine told me that one of his friends found a big TV in a dumpster. And it was quite new, to boot. It didn,t turn on first time they tried it. But...
They looked at the back of the TV and found a Reset button. They pushed that button and it worked every since. I feel SORRY for the poor SAPs that dumped the good TV with OUT even trying the Reset button!Poor saps lost a couple hundred bucks at least, cuz it was a pretty big TV.
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
You're absolutely on the money, sigma... I know that there were things that could be used by others and I was glad to let them have what they wanted. Especially when I saw a little girl from up the street take a doll that my daughter didn't want anymore. That was nice :) The guys that cruise people's trash for their businesses are pretty aggressive.
You're right--if I put everything at the curb the morning of the collection, maybe I could have avoided all that mess! I live in a very suburban neighborhood and several neighbors are fanatical about their properties. They don't like it if people feed the birds because their cars might get pooped on (LOL) so they especially don't like to see any trash strewn about. That's part of the reason I was out there cleaning up in the dark ;)
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
LOL jmintuck!!! I bet you're right that people throw things out just because they don't realize that "fixing them" could be incredibly simple. We really are a "throw away" society sometimes. But, what a great find to get a tv that had lots of life left in it! :D
2 people like this
@pebbles724 (642)
• United States
14 Jan 07
We don't have people going through our garbage cans, but I do know that when we have our bulk pickup, I have seen people in vans driving up and down our street and taking things out of the piles. I don't have a problem with that. If they find something useful that someone is throwing out, go for it. But I do think it is wrong in your case that they are going through dumpsters and making a big mess all over your front yard. That is defintely illegal what they are doing.
@Terri_R (302)
• United States
15 Jan 07
Yes, there are people who dig though rummage in my small West Texas town, and yes, they leave a mess when they are done. That is why I started loading up my unwanted things and donating it to recycling centers and resale shops. That way the shelters in our town can use any small profits from it to help the homeless and needy and the people that want it just to resale at flea markets and such are donating money toward a good cause as well.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
Oh yeah, ababee... here in my suburb, people check personal trash every single week. You can hear them coming LOL They have either a big van or a truck with a trailer and, if you put out any big items, you'll hear their trucks rattling along and slowing down as they "cruise your cans"... they're right quick about snapping things up and they generally know what they're looking for.
3 people like this
@sirensanssmile (3764)
• Netherlands
14 Jan 07
When I lived in the usa for a bit I had moved from one state to another. Iput a bunch of stuff in the dumpster of the apartment complex and there was a bunch of people from the apartments near it going through is as soon as I started to walk away. I went out later to toss a television set that was messed up but they begged me to hand it to them. I threw it away because someone had put a car speaker on it (magnet) and the screen had turned into some bizarre rainbow effect. They wanted it abyway. They did make a big mess digging through my trash but it was in the apartment complex so there wasn't much I could say.
If you see them again, sneak up on them and ask them nicely to not make such a mess.
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
In retrospect, I should have just walked out there with fresh trash bags and told them to clean it all up :) That might have been a smart thing to do!
Problem was, I kept checking and they were still out there and I didn't want them to feel that I was chasing them away. I saw the stuff all over my yard but I assumed (stupid me) that they'd clean it up... then POOF! They were gone... but the mess wasn't.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
14 Jan 07
How appalling! I have often retrieved things from dumpsters, so, like you, I would have at first said "Why not?"
If they are regulars, one could take a photo of the mess they created, take a trip and identify them somewhere else in the area and take photos, then put the photos in as evidence.
If they actually had to enter your property to access the dumpster, then they were trespassing. In fact, I believe that the law here says that anything in a dumpster is still the property of the person who put it there and becomes the property of the dumpster supplier on collection, so it is technically stealing if one doesn't ask permission.
3 people like this
@leezamaries (241)
• United States
14 Jan 07
We put a dormer on our house and tore out our bathroom to make it bigger and better.(Still not done.) We had a full dumpster outside. We did have a lot of people come by, digging through for wood, scrap metal and who knows what else.
Like you I had no problem with it. Unlike you there was no mess involved. So I'm fine with it as long as they keep it clean. I have enough to clean up after with out strangers throwing things around!
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
14 Jan 07
leezmaries! You just reminded me of something! When my mom passed away, we had to sell her house. We rented a big dumpster and several family members spent the day cleaning out the garage and basement and such. When we came back early the next morning, the dumpster was all topsy turvy inside -- people had clearly gone right to the bottom and "stirred things up", if you will -- and there were even items left on the grassy bank of the driveway, where the dumpster was standing.
I don't even know how anyone would have known it was there (especially not in one night). She lived in a very quiet suburban neighborhood, on a circle that got little to no drive-by traffic. However, now that I think of it, my mom had always given a lot of things to the two young guys that bought the house next door (including a bed, a sectional sofa, and some major appliances, as she replaced these things) so perhaps they checked through the dumpster for more stuff.
But, like you say, it was enough trouble getting everything in there the first time... it was even less fun to do it a second time LOL
3 people like this
@SandTrooper (37)
• Iraq
14 Jan 07
There is a saying that one man's garbage is another man's treasure. Even though I do not mind either, but it become's a pain in the butt. They should at least clean up after themselves. If not it should be banned. Where I come from they do it all the time. Looking for bottles, anything salvagable.
3 people like this
