Thread: Have you ever?

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Have you ever went "dumpster diving?"

I've heard of people who have, but what do you do? LOL.
Have you ever found any treasures?


I saw a big lovely load of cardboard at the mall dumpster when walking
around. Is that free? I can use that to make some items..

All you're doing is grabbing stuff out of a dumpster. Ya, it's free, they are throwing it. Some places do not like it, some could care less. My uncle actually found an old porch off a house, and re-did it. One man's junk speech here. There all all kinds of goodies in there.

You have to be very careful. Legally, the contents of a dumpster belong to either the dumper, or more likely, the contractor that owns the dumpster. There are concerns of someone getting hurt and sueing - and you can come across some dangerous stuff in dumpsters.
That being said, I used to LOVE to dumpster dive, and still will occasionally. My best find was about a dozen cordless phones and answering machines in a rental store dumpster. All they did was bend the antennas to claim them as broken, and tossd them. I replaced the antennas and they worked great. Another time I pulled boxes and boxes of HO train accessories out of a dumpster. Made a killing at a local flea market. The tombstones I put up every year were made from composite fibre board remants I found one time.

Oh yea. I found hundreds of greeting cards behind a card store that went out of business. And paper goods. And knick knacks. And stands and displays. And...

There have been times when I asked if I could look. Usually I say we're collecting boxes for moving, and may we look to see if there are any we could use. Of course, I wouldn't hesitate looking for other things as well. And if I saw something specific, I have asked if I could take it. I got a decent taboret that way. And I have been told "no", and respected their wishes.

Bottom line, be careful, wear thick soled shoes and take gloves, be respectful of other people's property, and good luck!!! Let us know what you find.

I have done this. If it's something just sticking up or sitting next to the dumpster, I'll take it, but if it's IN there, I've asked if it's okay to pull something out.

I draw the line at getting into a dumpster, tho.

If it's something out on a curb, it would be nice to ask the people if it's okay to take it.

I would be carefull. As it was said before, there are some legal issues, but the most important is safety! I know that at the hotel, we throw away a lot of kool items, but we also throw away metals, broken bottles etc.

Closest Ive come to dumpster diving is picking junk up at the curb on garbage day. We used to make a night of it occasionally .A few times I have even seen things that I think people are going to throw out , if its at the side of their house, and knock on the door and ask for it. sometimes I get lucky, sometimes not. Iam never embarrassed. I just tell them what I want it for and just keep gabbing to them. Its just another opertunity to talk to people about our haunt and invite them over.

Originally Posted by darth stygian

I would be carefull. As it was said before, there are some legal issues, but the most important is safety! I know that at the hotel, we throw away a lot of kool items, but we also throw away metals, broken bottles etc.

And drug needles and medical waste and used condomns and body parts. Yes, too much Court TV for me!

You could also consider it recycling instead of dumpster diving.
Good for the enviroment if something can be re-used
But like the others said, be careful of other harmful things that might be in there.

MsM

Haha thanks guys!

Yeah, i do call it recycling! Most of my props are recycled
and look way better (and inexpensive) then storebought in my opinion. (;

We haven't don it in years....but - that's how we made our Halloween pillars (still have those) and our first headstones (all of those were wood and have now been replaced).
When we first moved to the area there was a lot of new home construction going on. My husband would find all kinds of gems in the dumpsters.
Like everyone said though, just be careful, and in that situation, he only got things that were IN the dumpster because it was obvious they were done with it.