After students start to move out of my college a few of us begin to rummage through the trash to see if we can find anything worth salvaging. Sometimes there is nothing but some pizza covered boxes that are a little damp from the rain, or a broken piece of glassware, or even more unsavory trash that no one wants to touch. But in between all of this junk there is always something worth looking at. I have found fans, refrigerators, shelves, vacuums, grills, and even a working laptop before and even if these are not a million dollars, they are still worth my time. So here are a few tips and comments to people who have never gone dumpster diving before.

1. Why bother?

Now there are various reasons that people throw all sorts of expensive equipment out and all of these pieces are worth some looking into. Even though that fan may be covered in mustard I can still clean it off and get it working, and that is a free fan for me or one of my friends. And who does not want a free backup laptop to use when theirs is having issues? Some people even make a lot of money doing it.

2. Is the trash not gross?

Think about everything that you throw away on a daily basis and now imagine that mixed with all of those same items and more from others. That mixture is definitely going to be gross but that is why disinfectant was created. Many of the things you find when dumpster diving will have something on them that may gross you out but just put on some gloves and power through. I cannot say the trash is not gross at the time, but in the end the reward is worth it.

3. So where do I look?

Start off your search by looking at times when the trash will be the most filled. You will have the most options and, therefore, be more likely to find something you can use. I recommend looking into trash pickup schedules in nice neighborhoods or move out dates of seasonal housing near you (like a college).

4. What do I look for?

What you are searching for is up to you. Unlike shopping, your goal is not to stick to your list but to find something that you may not have thought of before. Generally, I go in looking for appliances that I can keep or give to my friends but there are all sorts of things to look at. Personally, I do not dig through small bags hoping someone lost a small gem but I look for more practical objects that are easier to spot.

5. What do I wear?

Find some clothes you are not afraid to get dirty. I would recommend long sleeves and long pants as well as gloves and a hat to keep as much of you covered as possible. As long as you do not just fall into the trash you generally can stay pretty safe and mostly clean but always be cautious of your surroundings.

These tips may seem kind of obvious, but that is because dumpster diving is very simple and everyone should go out and try it sometime. You never know what you may find.