Dumpster Diving

[sanddrag]

Well first, let me ask a question? Is it legal or not? I've yet to really find a definitive answer. Anyway, post here what cool finds you've pulled from the trash.

[JamesBrown]

I believe it is, I believe that once the trash is thrown out then it is up for grabs (assuming it is not on private property). The only thing I remember finding thrown out that I kept were 2 power seats from a car, I took the motors out and all of the switches.

[Cuog]

Yes it is legal (at last here in VA)the only time that its really a problem is when its at people's houses it must be sitting at the curb then. lets see in a dumpster we have accumulated a grill, half a motocycle(we needed some part off of it)not to mention a bunch of electronics stuff people have broken and i have gotten working(like and in box flightstick that has a driver CD that only works in win95/98)

[anna~marie]

Well it's not exactly a dumster, but my friends and I were driving along and saw some trash outside a person's house - at the road. Among the ruins was a plywood dolphin [about 4 feet long], painted and everything. So we loaded it in her backseat (with me, of course, squished with it) and brought it to school early to put our physics teacher's/mentor's room

[CmptrGk]

ive gotten a 400 watt computer psu, a small robot kit (which is now parts), and assorted fans

[sciguy125]

In my area, it's illegal. Once something is in the can is at the curb, its contents belong to the city.

[Morgan Gillespie]

Today I found a computer in the trash. Go along college streets right after graduation. Since they are moving out they throw out 50% of their stuff. Great things get thrown out simply because they can't take it with them.
It was a HP computer, Celeron processor , 60g hd, 6g backup, dvd/cd drive, cdrw drive, and 256mb of ram. Not a bad find if I do say so myself. Found the monitor too, rather nice one at that. Yet I wanted to gut this comp for its ram and hd yet my mom wanted the computer for herself. So i let her have it, my dad said because I let my mom have it he will buy me 512mb of addition ram to add to my comp. Sweet!

This leads me to a pressing question.
I would really like to do a multi monitor setup. What is required for me to do so? I have a GigaByte Radeon 9600pro 256mb on WXP SP2 in my comp. Could I do a multi monitor setup with this card? If so how, if not what would be required for me to get to create a multi monitor setup? Would me having an extra Radeon 9200se 128mb help me in this matter?
I have contacted ATI yet they will take forever to respond.

[Gabe]

No, it is not legal. Trash is considered private property. Dumpster diving is stealing someone's property. Dumpster diving is only with permission, which is funny because it is someone else's trash.

Mostly I just rummage for spare materials, like plywood, pipe, and spare nails (those nail strips for nail guns are really handy).

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Gabe

No, it is not legal. Trash is considered private property. Dumpster diving is stealing someone's property. Dumpster diving is only with permission, which is funny because it is someone else's trash.

Mostly I just rummage for spare materials, like plywood, pipe, and spare nails (those nail strips for nail guns are really handy).

IANAL, but it seems to vary according to your locality. (I suppose instead of RTFM, we've now progressed to RTLL.)

That said, seriously take a look at college campuses around finals. I picked up a lamp that way, and others have scored couches and tons of carpet. (I tossed my carpet--too worn out to take home, and nowhere to keep it anyway.) No computer finds yet, but I've got two more years. I don't actively dumpster dive, though, so maybe I do it wrong. (Targets of opportunity, I suppose.)

[Jay H 237]

It depends on your local codes/ordinances/bylaws/deeds if it's legal or not.

The only time I've gone looking in a dumpster was when I worked at my last job. Our building was next to an awning manufacturer and they had a "clean" dumpster where they only tossed fabrics that were left over from jobs. Very occassionaly you could even find a complete bolt of fabric. The stuff was too heavy for a regular sewing machine so I and most of the people I know couldn't do much with the stuff but it did make great drop cloths.

Now where I work now they have changed around the offices and shop several times and I've scored some stuff right before it was to go to our trash compactor. I got a nice heavy table I put in the garage. It has metal legs, a 2" thick top and the top is covered in formica so it cleans up easily.

I also got an office chair that was being tossed because it was the wrong color. Our company colors are gray and maroon but the chair is blue so they wanted to get rid of it. I have that in my garage also and sit in it all the time as I work at the work bench. Very comfortable and the price couldn't be beat.

I gave my father a metal rack that plastic bins clip to. He could use it for his spare parts he keeps for the repairs of Lionel trains he does.

I know plenty of people who have gained lawn mowers, tillers, snow blowers and similar items that were left by curbs to be taken away. Some only needed fresh gas or minor repairs to get them going again.

The best find I know of was 4 rims with tires, trim rings and center caps. They were in good condition and were the Rally style that was popular on the Corvettes back in the 70's and even used on the Chevelles and Novas. One of the guys I used to work with found them on the way to work stacked alongside a garbage pail with a note for the garbage truck to take them. They were dusty and the tires were dry rotted but the rims, trim rings and center caps cleaned right up with soap and water.

[JaneYoung]

A few times a year we can set things out by the curb for pickup: sofas, mattresses, tires, old appliances - we receive notifications and know the date to have things set out. It is sometimes a treasure trove. I have lugged home old pieces of furniture that I refinish or leave as is. One find that I love and my family hates is an old piece with a small closet on one side and drawers on the other. The drawers are missing and I use the drawer slots for paper supplies and robotic stuff. It is pepto bismal pink and the finish has naturally crackled. I think the pink is what nauseates everyone but I like it.

I also found two broken children's chairs. I took them apart and put the backs together to form a small shelf. It hangs in my office.

My latest find was a giant piece of plastic that has heavy thread pressed into it in a criss cross fashion. I took it to the shop and stored it in a container - just in case - may come in handy for jello sliding (j/k).

[KenWittlief]

when I was a teenager I road my bike around several blocks in my neighborhood, looking for bicycle parts. I built 3 or 4 complete bikes out of parts that people tossed by the curb. I might end up buying a seat or pedals or tires here and there, but I had a pretty good collection of bike parts by the time I was 14 or so.

As for dumpsters, there is an issue. They are always located on private property (they are never by the curb) and if a cop sees you back behind office buildings at 1AM they very often will stop to see what you are up to.

In many places it is illegal, mostly for one reason - people throw all kinds of dangerous things in dumpsters. If you get hurt, or if a dumpster falls on you then you know what will happen - someone will sue the company, or the dumpster service company on your behalf. That is one of the primary reasons why its illegal. If companies let you rummage through their dumpsters and you get hurt, then they are liable for your injuries.

BTW, it all balances out in the long run. I have put 3 or 4 perfectly good bicycles by the curb with a "FREE" sign on them over the last few years (just to make space in my garage)

they were all taken within an hour of being set free :^)

Over the years I have intercepted things the company I work for was going to throw out. I got 800 Akg headphone speaker assemblies (speaker and foam ring) that were used on studio headphones. I sold them on ebay for 1 to $2 each in boxes of ten.

[artdutra04]

Now I have never actually gone into a dumpster, but I have found a few really cool things in stuff that people were going to just throw out. I have a few Pentium III computers that my father's company was going to throw out that he claimed. (We wiped the hard drives and reloaded Windows 2000 onto them.)

My favorite find so was in a pile of stuff in a garage of a co-worker of my father that was going to be thrown out. Deep inside the pile I found a green box full of rare, antique pre-war Lionel trains still in working order and really good condition. They had "no use for those old toys" so they let me have them.

[Morgan Gillespie]

Well if we are talking about past items I have to bring up the best, hands down trash find of them all.

A hot dog cart.
A full working gas powered hot dog cart. Two cooking vats, a wet storage space for putting ice and sodas, dry containers for storing hot dogs and buns, a spot for your propane tank, wheels, and two handle bars. The coolest find ever. We use it for random large outdoor activities at parks.

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by Mercury Rising

Well if we are talking about past items I have to bring up the best, hands down trash find of them all.

A hot dog cart.
A full working gas powered hot dog cart. Two cooking vats, a wet storage space for putting ice and sodas, dry containers for storing hot dogs and buns, a spot for your propane tank, wheels, and two handle bars. The coolest find ever. We use it for random large outdoor activities at parks.

wow! what would it take to get a permit and use it part time during the summer where you live?

Here in rochester NY hot dog carts on the street corners is a part of city life. Every time I go downtown I have to get a red hot!

depending on where you live that could be a very good part time job for someone.