If anyone is interested I built a mobile app for garbage picking / dumpster diving. Its called DumpMart. Maybe some can find it helpful in your adventures.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dumpmart/id6444135692

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.GJHDigital.DumpsterDiver

Khmer Times: Cambodia to place more standardized landfills in provinces. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50980509/cambodia-to-place-more-standardized-landfills-in-provinces/

I guess there’s no where else to post lol but looks like this thread is dead.

I’ve been garbage picking for 10 years- lately on a bit of a streak in a good way. My story is about last night. I live in a middle class to upper middle class town. Lots of richer areas- overall a good town. I like to pick around here because people throw out decent stuff. Often I’ll find certain rich people throw out brand new clothes. It’s troubling- because I know that children slaves in other countries probably helped make those clothes- and I also know that many people in need in our surrounding towns during this global pandemic, so to see people just putting brand new clothes in land fills is honestly despicable in my view.

Last night I went to a house where I know they tend to do that sort of thing. In fact, two years ago I made $150 off their garbage because they had tons of brand new Nike clothes for a few weeks getting thrown out. I also donated 100’s of pounds of clothing from them alone. Last night they came outside while I was just checking to make sure the clothes weren’t gross.

Two people came outside “excuse me- please we really don’t want people picking our trash”. (Duh- it’s legal, but not everyone is okay with it I get it). But just to reassure her I said “no worries- I was going to donate most of them anyway”. And it was funny because the lady gasped and opened her mouth like I just offended her? I didn’t realize why at the moment because I was just trying to reassure her that like, it’s not like I’m spying on them or something. So she didn’t say anything, just looked offended so I said “But um yeah- Im not gonna keep picking your trash it’s all good- have a goodnight”.

I left and thought “why the hell was she so offended by what I said”. And then I realized. She’s over here throwing out 100’s of pounds of child slavery endorsed, brand new clothing into our landfills and shunning 100s of needy people out of feeling comfortable and looking good- and a broke ass garbage picker out of $10 - and here I am, some guy with a van outside your house- about to donate 99% of your “waste” to people in need- not because I have to, but because it helps everyone- people and the environment. It disgusts me and I pick garbage.

I maintain that I still have hope for humanity. I guess as much as I felt the need to share this- writing it on a thread that no one is going to see is enough for now- just hope I can make a bigger difference for people in the future. Garbage picker today- running a shelter that actually gets people on their feet tomorrow

I have 4 big screen tube televisions, a washer/dryer and a refrigerator as well as other miscellaneous “trash” items. One persons trash is another person’s treasure! Comment if interested in taking a look and or hauling away! Thanks!

I'm a Soda can Collector and in a apartment and keep my cart in the yard. Anyway when it's too late to return my cans I bring it back with me and these other Collectors spotted my cans in the yard and steals it. This happens every time. Should it be considered stealing or do they have a right since it's a Apartment yard compared to a persons backyard?

Photos here

Last week at the dumpster there was an assortment of stuff, including a tea kettle and a computer monitor, but the only thing I took was a yellow-and-white purse. The strap is starting to fall off on one side, and since my messenger bag has the same problem I'll see if anyone can fix them.

Inside the purse was some Chinese money (a 1 yuan coin and 5 jiao bill) and a composition book meant for practicing your handwriting with the "English" alphabet. The notebook is blank except for this message at the beginning:

"If you can smile, why cry? If you can be happy, why being sad? If you can do better, why just stand there? Grab every single chance and used it wisely, that, is the way to achieve your goal.

"Every single moment that you are alive and breathing, is a gift from god. Don't feel desperate, because you are gifted.

"The sky is not a limit. Everything is possible as long as you don't think it's impossible. Keep trying, do not stop just because people say that it's good enough. You know you could do better.

"Every little thing that you're doing right now is a brick on the road of your future."

A few days later I found an old-ish pocket calculator. The zero and decimal keys are missing, but they register if I press the area with a touchscreen stylus. Does anyone know of something that can replace the keys? Edit: It's not very elegant, but I cut two rings out of the stylus tip, placed them in the empty areas, and covered both button areas with masking tape. Works fine!

Today I took a couple things from a garbage can at the church office -- I wouldn't normally do this but the contents caught my eye, specifically, there were a few books in there. I took one called The Top 100 Healing Foods; it contains some practical uses and nutritional information for various fruits and vegetables, and it has recipes! A package from a screen protector had one of those tiny microfiber cloths in it, which I had been meaning to buy since the one that came with my eyeglass case was ruined, so I picked that up as well as some blank greeting cards with a prayer candle motif.

All the stuff I've found so far, over the course of... five/six months? Besides coins, pencils, cardboard boxes, etc. Images here.

• Chest of drawers: The bottom two drawers had broken and been duct taped back together. They did a good job with that, I guess it wasn't worth moving though.
• Floor lamp with 5 flexible heads: One of them had a pretty messed-up socket and lampshade, so I took them out. It uses the same bulbs as the ceiling fans do, so that's nice.
• Paper Jamz guitar: Doesn't have a strap and needed new batteries, but works fine. Although it'll probably become a cosplay prop :-P
• I Santi leather purse: Found in near-perfect condition. I don't know anything about the brand; they sell for a decent amount, but I've been using it & think I'll keep it.
• Shoe rack: Nothing special, but it's in nicer shape than the hanging one I'd been using, plus my sneakers and boots actually fit on it. It's supposed to go up one more level judging by the extra broken pieces that were with it.
• Small garbage bin: It's bigger than my old one, but still small enough to use grocery bags in. Also it has a lid with a foot pedal!

• Seventeen Chocolate bars
• Two sealed 'eye rejuvenation' serums (sold for £18)
• Working record player (Akai AP-B21)
• A Pukka pie
• 9 jars of chicken tikka sauce
• Much food
• Old briefcase
• 'British Horse Society Men's Doubles Tennis Championship Winner 1986' Tankard
• Some nice flowers
• A carry cot

I love this stuff

Is like porn for pack rats!

Hi all! I am an avid garbage picker and I am thinking of opening an eBay account to sell what I find. Does anyone have any tips or tricks? Thoughts? Anyone making a decent living from this? I like this subreddit! :)

I hope /r/garbagepicking can become a place for all types of scavengers to discuss their trade. As far as I know there is only /r/dumpsterdiving, a good subreddit to be sure but one that is mostly focused on food and corporate waste.

I would like /r/garbagepicking topics to include scrap metal scavenging, bottle collecting, dump picking, saving things from the curb, and all other types of scavenging (including dumpster diving). It'd also be good to discuss related things, such how to sell or otherwise deal with your things.

I think of this as a refuge for trash pickers. We're often looked down upon (wrongly, I and many others would say) and so it's extra good for us to stick together. Because of this, I would also like people on /r/garbagepicking to feel free to talk about whatever else might be on their mind, including things about mental health. We all struggle with things from time to time, and it's good to be able to discuss this stuff with friends.

Anyways, I hope to see you here! It could be a lot of fun.