Dumpster Diving

[Le Libérer]

Though I personally have never physically dived into a dumpster, I have done some curbside shopping. I am guilty of picking up broken furntiure and restoring it. I found an amazing standup ceramic lamp that broke at the neck where the fixture sits. I repaired it, and its fabulous. I've also done the same with broken picture frames, wicker furniture, lots of stuff. My fav is an very old bookshelf where one of the shelves was missing, I went and picked up some lumber, fitted it and refinished to a reddish piney finish. I love seeing the finished product of taken something old and left for dead and bringing it back to life.

But then dumpster diving can get you in alot of trouble. I know of a girl who was arrested for dumpster diving behind the methodone clinic. It was never reported whether she found methodone or not, I would choose my items carefully or at least dont get caught doing it. :lol:

Anyone else?

[An archist]

Arrested for dumpster diving? Never heard of anyone being caught before.
And curbside shopping is great, it's a bit like searching for treasure :D

[RedAnarchist]

Persoanlly, the only time I've ever done it is when I was walking past the school I used to go to, decided to have a look in the big organge bins and found a rather tasty cheese sandwich (in one of those triangular plastic cases) that was perfectly edible and only a day out of date.

I would say that if someone was to do dumpster diving, they should make sure that there are no CCTV cameras, that they hide their identity and probably watch the dumpster for a bit to see if people go past it on a regular basis. I would say that the best time to do so is when its dark and the shop is a fairly small one 9less likely to have cameras).

[Palmares]

What the fuck? I think perhaps in a general sense, maybe you guys are getting a little paranoid about dumpster diving.

Sure, I've heard and met people who have been arrested for dumpster diving, but it is fucking rare, and is more indicative of the context of the place they are from, then some general tendency in dumpster diving practices.

The places I dumpster, i really dont give two fucks if there are cameras. Perhaps its different in some other places, but in my experience you really will only get in trouble if you are caught in the act, rather than them identifying you on CCTV and having a manhunt after you or whatever (so advice from local dumpster divings, if possible, is always a good thing). For the most part they dont give a fuck, but.... it also depends on what you are doing.

Glueing locks and/or boltcutting locks is a different story. Amongst other such similar tactics.

I have been told to leave, and sometimes chased though... ;)

[Le Libérer]

My point was dumpster diving for near empty viles of methodone could get you arrested on drug charges.

If I saw new clothing in a dumpster behind a department store I wouldnt give a flying fuck who saw me, cameras or no.

[Everyday Anarchy]

Dumpster diving at schools around the end of the year makes for some GREAT back to school "shopping" for next year. At my school anything found in lockers or in the Lost+Found box is thrown out at the end of the year.

Backpacks, jackets, shoes, notebooks, paper, pens, bags, etc.
It's great.

[counterblast]

I've found some wonderful things in dumpsters, like:

-a Super Nintendo with 20-something games (missing the controllers)
-a Fujifilm camera with tripod
-a 72-piece tupperware set
-2 new bicycles
-an unused $50 Macy's gift card
-a trillion Hallmark cards (for all occasions)
-a lifetime supply of Hanes sports bras
-over 60 Hollywood Video New Release DVDs
-a 5-day pass to Six Flags St. Louis theme park
-a new Mr. Coffee coffeemaker
-a 20" black and white TV

[counterblast]

Originally posted by Everyday [email protected] 18, 2007 01:19 am
Dumpster diving at schools around the end of the year makes for some GREAT back to school "shopping" for next year. At my school anything found in lockers or in the Lost+Found box is thrown out at the end of the year.

Backpacks, jackets, shoes, notebooks, paper, pens, bags, etc.
It's great.
That's a really good idea.

[Le Libérer]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17, 2007 11:14 pm
I've found some wonderful things in dumpsters, like:

-a Super Nintendo with 20-something games (missing the controllers)
-a Fujifilm camera with tripod
-a 72-piece tupperware set
-2 new bicycles
-an unused $50 Macy's gift card
-a trillion Hallmark cards (for all occasions)
-a lifetime supply of Hanes sports bras
-over 60 Hollywood Video New Release DVDs
-a 5-day pass to Six Flags St. Louis theme park
-a new Mr. Coffee coffeemaker
-a 20" black and white TV
Pajesus! I need to move to your neighborhood! I dont have access to all that in the hood!
I'm in need of some sports bras! Got any in 38 C? :lol:
Where was your location a mall?

Aww hell I just had a great idea... dumpster diving bartering :ph34r:

[Circle A]

Just the other day I scored an acoustic guitar in my buildings dumpster.
I just have to replace the "nut" on it and it will rock once more.

Dumpster diving is huge in my town.
A grocery store caught shit in the local media for putting bleach on the food they were throwing out so as to discourage 'binners' from diving for the good food they chuck out each day.

Obviously these assholes haven't gone hungry for a day in their life.

[More Fire for the People]

Yeah, not me personally but back in the 70s-80s my moms & her crew were big on it. They'd get firewood & tools from construction sites, furniture and all kinds of shit from dumpsters. I saw a lot of people dumpster diving in New York so I wouldn't say the act is dangerous, just the location.

[Le Libérer]

Originally posted by Circle [email protected] 19, 2007 04:31 pm
Just the other day I scored an acoustic guitar in my buildings dumpster.
I just have to replace the "nut" on it and it will rock once more.

Dumpster diving is huge in my town.
A grocery store caught shit in the local media for putting bleach on the food they were throwing out so as to discourage 'binners' from diving for the good food they chuck out each day.

Obviously these assholes haven't gone hungry for a day in their life.
OMG, how dispicable! Why would they care, they threw it out! I'm horified thinking about that! Gleaming was big in 60s with the hippies, so I heard :) Even in bibical times gleamers would go behind the wheat pickers because they would not be able to eat if they didnt.

I volunteered at a local food bank a couple of years ago. It was astounding how many hungry people there are in the richest country in the world. And they were elderly people, they get $650 a month in social secuirty which is just enough not to qualify for food stamps.

I hate the system. I have always made my own clothes, refurshished old furniture, I rarely buy any thing new. I cook everything from scratch, nothing processed, I even freeze the chicken broth when boiling chickens, it tastes so much better than canned broth. and I dont buy anything from Walmart or other corp. that have ruined family owned businesses. I know, I'm a freak, and quite obsseesed with it. :ph34r:

[Saint Street Revolution]

Originally posted by Debora Aro+August 19, 2007 11:22 pm--> (Debora Aro @ August 19, 2007 11:22 pm)
Circle [email protected] 19, 2007 04:31 pm
Just the other day I scored an acoustic guitar in my buildings dumpster.
I just have to replace the "nut" on it and it will rock once more.

Dumpster diving is huge in my town.
A grocery store caught shit in the local media for putting bleach on the food they were throwing out so as to discourage 'binners' from diving for the good food they chuck out each day.

Obviously these assholes haven't gone hungry for a day in their life.
OMG, how dispicable! Why would they care, they threw it out! I'm horified thinking about that! Gleaming was big in 60s with the hippies, so I heard :) Even in bibical times gleamers would go behind the wheat pickers because they would not be able to eat if they didnt.

I volunteered at a local food bank a couple of years ago. It was astounding how many hungry people there are in the richest country in the world. And they were elderly people, they get $650 a month in social secuirty which is just enough not to qualify for food stamps.

I hate the system. I have always made my own clothes, refurshished old furniture, I rarely buy any thing new. I cook everything from scratch, nothing processed, I even freeze the chicken broth when boiling chickens, it tastes so much better than canned broth. and I dont buy anything from Walmart or other corp. that have ruined family owned businesses. I know, I'm a freak, and quite obsseesed with it. :ph34r: [/b]
Nah...that's fucking remarkable. If I could be that DIY, I definitely would.

[Circle A]

QUOTE (Circle A @ August 19, 2007 04:31 pm)

Dumpster diving is huge in my town.
A grocery store caught shit in the local media for putting bleach on the food they were throwing out so as to discourage 'binners' from diving for the good food they chuck out each day.


Originally posted by Debora [email protected] 19, 2007 11:22 pm

OMG, how dispicable! Why would they care, they threw it out! I'm horified thinking about that! .



Here is a link to the story:



Independent Journalist Arrested For Filming Arrest of Homeless

Cook Street's Food Country grocery store has hired security guards, who work in concert with Victoria police, to keep people from reclaiming food that they throw away... and then poison. Filmmaker Andrew Ainsley spent a night in jail for filming the arrest of two dumpster divers at their store.

One of the security guards admitted, on tape, that bleach is intentionally poured into the dumpster - to permanently destroy the food. "I know people who were sick from eating food that's been bleached," Andrew reports. "So I set up a camera inside a van, and put a wireless mic on one of the dumpster divers. They're wasting money and time arresting people for sleeping, eating, and loitering - which is, essentially, simply existing."

http://www.loveandfearlessness.com/eat.html

[Le Libérer]

Thanks I was going to ask if there was a link to tht story. I'm going to redistribute the article.

[Saint Street Revolution]

Why would a store care who takes thrown away stuff? They obviously had no need for it.

Greedy fucks, that's what they are.

[Freigemachten]

Originally posted by Everyday Anarc[email protected] 18, 2007 01:19 am
Dumpster diving at schools around the end of the year makes for some GREAT back to school "shopping" for next year. At my school anything found in lockers or in the Lost+Found box is thrown out at the end of the year.

Backpacks, jackets, shoes, notebooks, paper, pens, bags, etc.
It's great.
In High School I set up a deal with the Janitors, told them I'd take out the trash of one floor of lockers if they'd let me keep anything I found, as long as it wasn't something that aught to be returned (CD players, iPods things of that sort) So I got free stuff without having to dive for it and the staff at the school loved me because I helped out.

[Saint Street Revolution]

Originally posted by Freigemachten+August 21, 2007 07:24 am--> (Freigemachten @ August 21, 2007 07:24 am)
Everyday [email protected] 18, 2007 01:19 am
Dumpster diving at schools around the end of the year makes for some GREAT back to school "shopping" for next year. At my school anything found in lockers or in the Lost+Found box is thrown out at the end of the year.

Backpacks, jackets, shoes, notebooks, paper, pens, bags, etc.
It's great.
In High School I set up a deal with the Janitors, told them I'd take out the trash of one floor of lockers if they'd let me keep anything I found, as long as it wasn't something that aught to be returned (CD players, iPods things of that sort) So I got free stuff without having to dive for it and the staff at the school loved me because I helped out. [/b]
I'm definitely gonna give that a shot one day.

My school staff hates me, however, so they might think I'm up to something :ph34r:

[OneBrickOneVoice]

I prefer table diving, its a much more sanitary way of getting food

[An archist]

Originally posted by GrandMonster [email protected] 21, 2007 05:45 pm
I prefer table diving, its a much more sanitary way of getting food
Dumpster diving can produce healthy food you know, just smell before you eat it.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

so can table diving. And its funner. But only do it at really, really, fancy restaurants

[Mujer Libre]

I've never been caught dumpster diving, although I do remember bumping into someone who worked at the store- I think he was a cleaner. He looked a bit surprised... and I think he asked us if we found anything good. :lol:

Apparently Aldi dumpsters are amazing, not least because they, in all their environmentally fucked-upness, package thir fruit and veg in plastic. They also throw out some of the random gadgets that you get at Aldi every so often.

I'm also a huge fan of curbside scavenging, although I'm limited because I have next to no space in my flat. My parents are quite good at it though. They had a dining table that they'd found on the road for about eight years. The same goes for the TV cabinet, the pantry an a whole bunch of shelving. And apparently that's illegal because once people put stuff out "for collection" it becomes property of the council! How awful is that?

[Bilan]

Originally posted by Mujer Libre
Apparently Aldi dumpsters are amazing, not least because they, in all their environmentally fucked-upness, package thir fruit and veg in plastic. They also throw out some of the random gadgets that you get at Aldi every so often.

Holy shit! Why didn't I think of that?!!? There's one near me! I'm totally going to hit that up!!


I'm also a huge fan of curbside scavenging

I love you :wub:

[anarchista feminista]

Wasn't there another thread like this?? :blink:

[Palmares]

Originally posted by Debora [email protected] 18, 2007 05:02 am
My point was dumpster diving for near empty viles of methodone could get you arrested on drug charges.

If I saw new clothing in a dumpster behind a department store I wouldnt give a flying fuck who saw me, cameras or no.
Fair point. But I think that kinda goes without saying. *shrugs*

[Freigemachten]

My friends and I go curb searching as a joke now and then. Go grab stuff people have thrown out and leave it in odd places. Once took a shitty old sofa and put it on some one's front porch. Around here we call that taking a redneck shopping spree.

[Saint Street Revolution]

Originally posted by anarchista [email protected] 23, 2007 09:36 am
Wasn't there another thread like this?? :blink:
There was one that argued the efficiency of Dumpster Diving as a source of food, goods, etc. This one is asking if you can be reprimanded for Dumpster Diving. Similar topic, different thread.

[Le Libérer]

Originally posted by Cthenthar+August 23, 2007 07:53 am--> (Cthenthar @ August 23, 2007 07:53 am)
Debora [email protected] 18, 2007 05:02 am
My point was dumpster diving for near empty viles of methodone could get you arrested on drug charges.

If I saw new clothing in a dumpster behind a department store I wouldnt give a flying fuck who saw me, cameras or no.
Fair point. But I think that kinda goes without saying. *shrugs* [/b]
It does go without saying, but try telling that to a junkie.

I was talking to a friend about how I learned to sew because I lived in a small city and the stores just didnt have cool glam type clothing i wanted so I learned to make it. I remember my mother and I going to a dumpster behind a fabric store and retriieving all the discontinured sewing patterns for free. Thatts how I learned to make patterns. I would take sleeves from one pattern and add it to the bodice of another pattern to make a completely new pattern, from there I just made stencils of them. I was 15.

A very cool memory of my mom teaching me DIY.

[Palmares]

It does go without saying, but try telling that to a junkie.

That, you failed to mention. But yeah, as you say, I dont think theres much chance of convincing a junkie otherwise.

[Le Libérer]

Originally posted by Grandma Sweater+August 23, 2007 10:49 am--> (Grandma Sweater @ August 23, 2007 10:49 am)
anarchista [email protected] 23, 2007 09:36 am
Wasn't there another thread like this?? :blink:
[/b]
I knew there had to be a dumspter diving thread already in this forum, and I did dearch the term and nothing came up or I would have added on to it.

Is that okay with you?

[Palmares]

The two threads are similar, but are asking different questions. This one is specific to the chances of arrest etc, but perhaps some have taken it to be a general dumpstring thread.

The threads fine by me.

P.S. Deb, sorry if I sounded antagonistic at all.

[Le Libérer]

C, I have nothing but :wub: :wub: for ya. my brotha. No apology needed.

[Palmares]

:wub:

[Fidel Follower]

:D how cute

[counterblast]

Originally posted by Debora Aro+August 18, 2007 04:49 am--> (Debora Aro @ August 18, 2007 04:49 am)
[email protected] 17, 2007 11:14 pm
I've found some wonderful things in dumpsters, like:

-a Super Nintendo with 20-something games (missing the controllers)
-a Fujifilm camera with tripod
-a 72-piece tupperware set
-2 new bicycles
-an unused $50 Macy's gift card
-a trillion Hallmark cards (for all occasions)
-a lifetime supply of Hanes sports bras
-over 60 Hollywood Video New Release DVDs
-a 5-day pass to Six Flags St. Louis theme park
-a new Mr. Coffee coffeemaker
-a 20" black and white TV
Pajesus! I need to move to your neighborhood! I dont have access to all that in the hood!
I'm in need of some sports bras! Got any in 38 C? :lol:
Where was your location a mall?

Aww hell I just had a great idea... dumpster diving bartering :ph34r: [/b]
I live in a really shitty neighborhood in a 1 bedroom apartment building; but I usually find wonderful things biking around town. When I find something I can't carry, but is worth going back for I usually get a friend to drive me back later that evening.

Here is the stuff I can remember where I got:

Fujifilm camera & tripod
Behind a suburban Best Buy

a 72-piece tupperware set
In a residential inner-city apartment dumpster.

unused $50 Macy's gift card
In a residential inner-city apartment dumpster.

2 new bicycles
Behind a suburban KMart.

trillion Hallmark cards
Behind an inner-city Walgreens.

lifetime supply of Hanes sports bras
Behind suburban KMart

over 60 Hollywood Video New Release DVDs
Behind a suburban Hollywood Video store

a new Mr. Coffee coffeemaker
In a inner-city apartment complex on a couples moving day

a 20" black and white TV
I actually got this off the curb beside some ones house, so it wasn't quite dumpster diving

No, I only took my bra size! But if you or anyone you know is interested in any B sports bra's let me know, though. I have several different sizes, and most of them are still in their packaging.

[Bilan]

Counterblast, you are my dumpster diving idle :wub: