The Dumpster Diving Advantage

Zannee's Blog

Monday, June 16, 2008

Filed Under: Zannee's Tips, Shopping Adventures, Home & Garden, Local fun, Do it Yourself

By Suzanne O'Connor

Yes! I am guilty of dumpster diving. I learned it from the best… my mom. I am snobby about the location, but I have sifted through trash when it looked like someone was moving or clearing stuff out.

Sounds a bit gross, but the truth is that dumpster diving is ecofriendly. You’re finding usable goods and can recycle or reuse them and keep this stuff out of land fills. Even if you personally, may not need it, there are others who may appreciate it.

Treasures discovered in dumpsters and trash cans over the years have been a 1940’s mahogany secretary, 6 new in box, 8-track players for cars, a 1930’s wrought iron patio set, a wicker arm chair and my newest find a brand new in mint condition steno chair for my office.

The reason I mention Dumpster Diving is that Salvation Army, St Vincent De Paul and Goodwill are getting so much donated stuff they are getting really picky about what they take and a lot of good items are being put out with the trash. When I was clearing out my moms place, I had to leave a walnut bookcase, a portable working dishwasher and two metal café tables in the back alley.

My top neighborhood for trash picking / dumpster diving is Beverly Hills. Here you can find gems. Junk companies regularly patrol the area for discarded goods. I have also trash picked in Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Chatsworth, Tarzana and Sherman Oaks/ Studio City. I have been told that the downtown garment area is interesting, but I haven’t gone.

I don’t do it very often, but if I am driving down an alley and see something… I stop. So when you’re stuck in street traffic a cruise down a side alley may not only save you time but it may yield a couple of discarded treasures.

Reader Discussion

Just put up a post on scavenging at http://www.myfrugallife.com/blog_pamphyila.html

As I just snagged some good stuff around Coldwater Canyon. I don’t get to Beverly HIlls much - but I always keep an eye out in my travels around the city. I got a wood/glass vintage showcase cabinet off the street off Western Ave. because a friend alerted me. And I told him to come over quick to get the vintage 50’s dining room table that had been put out in the trash in my neighborhood!

Another tip - at the old apt. complex where we used to live - it always was a good idea to check out the area near (& in) the trash containers at the end of the month - as that was when everyone moved out & a lot of good stuff ended up in the trash! I furnished our whole patio with outdoor furniture I gleaned that way. And I have outdoor chairs I schlepped back to the city to put outside my apt. - because if they “walked” I wouldn’t worry about it, as they were gratis to begin with!
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Posted By pam munro on June 18, 2008

P.S. if you feel guilty about abandoning good stuff - try to list it on http://www.freecyce.com or on craigslist la!

Posted By pam munro on June 18, 2008

Oops - that’s http://www.freecycle.com!!!

Posted By pam munro on June 18, 2008

I just recently 7/20 had my new sofa delivered finally from Designer Interiors. Goodwill wouldn’t take my old sofa. So we put the old sofa out on the street… tacky I know. But I left it upright with the slipcover off and folded on the side. Some sharp individual grabbed that thing within 24 hours.
GoodWill has become snobby with pick ups.
Though it’s a form of trash picking and dumpster diving, furniture scavenging has is merits.
S.

Posted By Suzanne on July 31, 2008