78 Times Folks Found Something Really Precious Or Just Nice Whilst Dumpster Diving (New Pics)
The saying “one person’s trash is another’s treasure” couldn’t be more relevant today, as people are increasingly committed to sustainability and waste reduction. That’s likely why dumpster diving has officially shifted from social taboo to mainstream trend.
A subreddit is even dedicated to it, with 147,000 weekly visitors and counting. But in this community, people freely share the coolest finds they come across while digging through trash. And yes, they are noteworthy enough to draw attention online.
Here are some posts from the page that caught our attention, showing how much valuable stuff gets discarded instead of donated, repaired, or reused.
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Wild Find Next To Dumpster
I'd have this. I even have a spot where I could put it. I'd probably have the gilding stripped off and the wood refinished however.
Pulled Out Of Hoarder House Dumpster, The Cat Likes It
Big Day For Senior Dog With Arthritis
We bought a giant dog stroller for Stilgar when he was a puppy because he was so sick with distemper at one point that he couldn't walk for two months. (We don't know if it was actual paralysis or muscle issues, or if he just felt too sick to walk.) He still loved being outdoors, so we would walk the park pushing this floppy-eared puppy in a giant dog stroller XD He hasn't needed it for years, but because he's a large-breed dog (and because we have no idea what lasting effects the distemper will have on him as he ages) we kept the stroller for him for later. Don't ever let anyone shame you for pushing your dog/cat/bearded dragon in a stroller. Don't let anyone tell you it's stupid or cringe or "not worth the money". If it makes you happy to still be able to go on walks with your aging doggo or to safely walk with your catto, it's worth it.
Dumpster diving used to be associated more with people who are financially in the dumps (pun intended). But as we mentioned earlier, times have changed drastically.
The #dumpsterdiving trend on TikTok, for one, has drawn hundreds of thousands of views, showing people rummaging through piles of garbage and them boasting about their unique finds.
Finally Got Something To Share! Trash Picked A Sewing Machine!
Found A 150 Year Old Book
Found In The Trash
AFAIR, it can only be unlocked by a fruit that keeps the doctors away...🍎 🧑🏽⚕️ 🍏
One prominent dumpster-diving social media creator today is Kelly Sparks, who runs the YouTube channel breafkast. As of this posting, she has 236,000 subscribers who tune in to see what she finds next in her dumpster-diving adventures.
In a 2024 interview with The Guardian, she says, “Dumpster diving is the epitome of a treasure hunt.”
At The Apartment Down The Street. Had To Carry It Home
Guess Someone Decided They Wanted To Only Stream Movies From Here On Out. Hit The Mother Load Of Dvds!
I shed my CD collection years ago by giving it to a music conservatory. The DVD collection is still stuffed away in a cabinet because nobody wants them any more.
Dumpster God's Want Me To Garden
“It was overwhelming, the amount of food that was in their dumpster. We would dumpster dive every night. We got so hooked on it,” said Sparks, who dumpster dives in Northern Texas.
According to her, most of her international viewers are often surprised, almost shocked, by how much waste America produces. She says some of them are even left asking why there are bottled waters in US dumpsters.
A Facebook Random Sent Me Here,here's My Lucky Dive
Lunchtime Dumpster Diving
A Small Heart Shaped Display Table, Found Amidst Trash On The Side Of The Road
What counts as “trash” can also differ from person to person. As University of Chicago scholar and anthropologist Sarah Newman explains, food scraps may be garbage to one person, but valuable fertilizer material to another.
“There are also cultural differences in terms of the types of things that people see as being reusable or the attachments that people have to even things that are mass-produced products,” Newman said. “There are certain things that you or I might think of as a kind of disposable commodity, and other people might see as something more valuable.”
Vintage Fabric Dumpster Dive!
Someone Tossed Two Quarter Operated Washing Machines. This Is Just From One
It's Crazy How Much This Local Store Always Throws Out
Dumpster diving isn’t for everyone, and understandably so. It can be hard to dig through waste, some of which could even be toxic.
But if you can bring yourself to take on the adventure, you’re likely to stumble upon cool finds, as these people did. The best part: you don’t even need to pay much for these items, and they could add value to your life in the long run.
One Of The Most Random Finds Yet, A Discarded Apiary! Foraged The Wax To Make A Body Balm Tomorrow
Did A Second Dumpster Dive Run… They Threw Out Even More Hotwheels And Toys. Major Difference In Amount This Time
Folks Were Throwing This Away At Work, Now It’s Mine :p
I got a work bench for the garage with outlets on it this way. Also an executive size desk - we could use both sides at the same time.
Found This Today 10 Karat Gold Got 300 Bucks For It
Found This Lamp During My Walk
Found On Side Of Road
A Closet Of Brand New Merchandise From Our Favorite Decor Dumpster
I Should Just Quit Now. 16.9g Of 14k
Dumpster Dive Huge Score
Found This In Dumpster
Today's Finds
Someone Threw Out A Whole Gaming PC
As I Found It Againt The Dumpster Wall
Got Lucky With This One
Genuine Staubs? Still in their packaging? Something's not right here.
I Found A Body
Today's Vacant Walk Yeilded Some Things
I never find stuff like this, just people's used carp no one wants.
Found A Never Used Wii Fit Plus Kit In A Dumpster. It Still Has Wrapping Paper From When It Was Given As A Present, And Batteries That “Expired” In 2014
Look What I Found Out Behind A Hobby Lobby
Wow! I remember these from fabric stores when I was a kid. I loved looking through them to try to find the patterns for making stuffed animals.
You Just Never Know
Found 234 Rolls Of Duct Tape
On The Side Of The Road About 200' From My Drive Way
My Craziest Find Yet
Insanity
My Wife Tried Her Hand At Reupholstering Some Dumpster Furniture. It Smelled And Had Tons Of Stains And Scratches, She Painted It And Used Old Curtains. I Think It Turned Out Pretty Cool!
Found This Thing Just Tossed In A Dumpster! And It Works!
First Night Of College Diving
My First Dive!
Productive Morning So Far. Pulled These Out Of A Bin
Crazy Huge Beauty Haul
I Love Filling The Little Free Pantry
Orphanage Donations
Found This In The Dumpster At My Work
I don't think I'd use a Stanley cup/thermos/cup of any kind that I found in a dumpster. XD I know one can sanitize it, especially if it's made of metal, but that's one of those things my brain wouldn't be able to get behind.
Unbelievable Today. Still Cold Too
Found In A Glass Case Dumpster Diving
Someone Really Threw This All Away
Found These In A Tote In A Dumpster. Worth Anything?
Rescued This Little Fella!
Found This Gift Card Cut In Half. It Still Had $25 On It And I Could Enter It Manually!
Found All These Uncut Old Keys In A Dumpster
Note To Self, Check Recalls Before Loading Car
Found A Computer, Washer And Dryer Outside In The Dumpster. Made Them All Work Again
50 State Quarter Book With Quarters Still Inside
Just Donated Over $100 Of Free Food
And you chose cereal that rots teeth and is pure sugar? Way. To. Go?
First Time And I Kinda Just Wanna Do This Every Day LOL
Found In Trash At Work
Batteries I’ve Saved From The Dumpster
University Move Out
40% Of All Food Ends Up In The Trash
Husband Came Home “I Have A Gift, From The Dumpster!”
Dumpster Dining
1/1000000000 Chance
I Found This Old Doctor Bag Maybe From The 70s? What Should I Do With It?
My Wife Woke Me Up At 8 Am For Some "Trash" She Found On The Curb. (Crosspost, Not Mine)
I Am Stunned
Massive Haul
Today's Find
Found A Litter Robot 4
Momento Dash Cameras Removed From Local Police Department
Did A Double Take While Passing By It To Make Sure I Was Seeing Clearly
I Feel So Grateful Lucky!
What’s The Chance I Scored?
Someone Really Just Left This Outside The Trash
Yesterday’s 5 Below Find!
For stuff like food and cookware, please check for any recent recalls before you eat/use.
I was driving on a busy 4-lane highway a few years ago and got a glimpse of what I thought was a 6' fiberglass stepladder lying on the shoulder. I already had one, but decided to go back and check it out, even though it was probably broken up from falling off a truck. It was not a 6' stepladder, it was an 8' stepladder, and it was in great shape. I loaded it on my pickup and took it home.
For stuff like food and cookware, please check for any recent recalls before you eat/use.
I was driving on a busy 4-lane highway a few years ago and got a glimpse of what I thought was a 6' fiberglass stepladder lying on the shoulder. I already had one, but decided to go back and check it out, even though it was probably broken up from falling off a truck. It was not a 6' stepladder, it was an 8' stepladder, and it was in great shape. I loaded it on my pickup and took it home.
