Dumpster diving, also known as binning, skipping, or scavenging, is the practice of searching through commercial or residential waste containers to find items that have been discarded. Often, perfectly good food, merchandise, and other usable goods are thrown away by stores, restaurants, and consumers.
Dumpster diving has become popular among freegans, who salvage discarded food and other goods to reduce consumer waste and dependence on capitalism. It is also done by thrifty individuals as a way to obtain free items for personal use or resale. Some people even make a living by reselling valuable goods found in dumpsters.
The best stores to dumpster dive are often those behind grocery stores, drug stores, department stores, and big-box retailers. These retailers frequently throw out slightly damaged goods, unsold inventory, expired food items, and more. Popular targets include Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, CVS, and Whole Foods.
The ethics of dumpster diving are debated. Supporters view it as reducing waste, while critics argue it encourages trespassing and unethical behavior. Legally, dumpster diving is allowed in the United States as waste in public bins is considered public domain. However, some stores have policies against the practice. Dumpster divers should be aware of risks like trespassing and food safety.
Best Stores To Dumpster Dive
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores tend to offer some of the most bountiful dumpster diving, especially for free food. Large chains like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Kroger, Aldi, and Costco often have full dumpsters out back containing recently expired or damaged goods.
While it’s illegal to sell expired food, most grocery items are still perfectly safe to eat for weeks or months after the printed date. You can find a huge variety of foods, including fresh produce, dairy products, frozen items, packaged goods, baked goods, and more. Much of it may just be past its “best by” date or have damaged packaging.
Some of the top food finds typically include:
- Produce that’s a bit overripe or bruised
- Yogurts, cheeses near their expiration date
- Slightly crushed boxes of cereal, cookies, chips
- Canned goods with small dents
- Loaves of bread or baked goods from the day before
- Meats, frozen foods due to temperature issues
The key is knowing when deliveries arrive and when stores rotate stock. Early weekday mornings are often best. Some locations also donate goods, so timing and laws vary. Still, a single grocery store dumpster can supply a dumpster diver with hundreds of dollars worth of free food weekly.
Drug Stores
Drug stores like CVS and Walgreens regularly toss expired over-the-counter medications, health products, and beauty items that can still be used safely past expiration dates. While food expires quickly, the FDA requires very conservative expiration dates on medications and beauty products.
Many drugs simply become less potent over time, but remain effective for years if stored properly. Vitamins, supplements, allergy meds, pain relievers, and cold medicines are commonly discarded while still providing benefits.
Makeup and skincare like mascara, lipstick, lotion, and cleansers often end up in dumpsters as well. Though they may dry out or separate over time, they can be revived with some TLC.
When diving for OTC meds and beauty finds, check seals to ensure no tampering occurred. Also give items a smell test and inspect for any changes in texture, clumping, etc. As long as the products look and smell normal, they should be fine to use or pass along.
The major score in drug store dumpsters is the huge savings on pricey beauty and healthcare items. Just be sure to inspect expiration dates and products closely. Don’t use anything that seems truly expired or hazardous.
Home Improvement Stores
Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s regularly toss all kinds of tools, hardware, and building materials that get returned, damaged, or discontinued. You can find things like:
- Power tools – drills, saws, sanders, etc. Often just missing accessories or with cosmetic damage to the case/packaging. Fully functional.
- Hand tools – hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers. May have some rust or be older/discontinued models. Still very usable.
- Nails, screws, bolts, brackets. Opened boxes or loose hardware gets tossed even if most of it is still there.
- Wood – plywood, dimensional lumber. You can find cutoff pieces leftover from customer projects or broken pallets.
- PVC/CPVC pipes, connectors, elbows. Short pieces and extras often get tossed.
- Electrical supplies – wire, outlets, breakers, conduit. Partial spools, old stock, returns, etc.
- Plumbing supplies – pipe, fittings, valves. Same as electrical.
- Paint – returned cans, mistints, expired stock.
- Flooring – tiles, vinyl sheets, laminate boards. Discontinued styles or damaged boxes.
The key is checking dumpsters shortly after new stock arrives or end-of-day when goods are purged. Be selective and only take quality items you can actually use. Avoid making a mess scattering debris around.
Department Stores
Department stores like Macy’s, JCPenney, and Nordstrom often throw away clothes, shoes, accessories, and more that don’t sell or have minor defects. You can find new or gently used name-brand items if you check dumpsters behind these stores.
The best times to go are on weekends when stores are clearing out inventory from that week. Expect to find new merchandise with tags still on, customer returns that can’t be resold, and floor models or display items. Clothing may have small flaws like pulled threads, missing buttons, or scuffs that prevent them from being sold. But these imperfections are easy to fix or overlook.
For shoes, inspect the soles and insides for wear, but many will be new in box. Handbags may have scratches or scuffs, but can be restored with leather cleaner. The same goes for belts and wallets. If you find accessories like jewelry or sunglasses, check for any broken parts or missing pieces. But the majority will be new and untouched.
Sometimes you may also come across brand signage or marketing materials being discarded when stores refresh their displays. These can often be repurposed creatively.
Overall, department store dumpsters offer an abundance of high-quality goods that are still very usable and worth salvaging. Just be prepared to sort through and clean items as needed. But use discretion when diving and take only what you will genuinely use or gift.
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works often throws away discontinued or seasonal products like candles, room sprays, hand soaps, and bath bombs. You can find brand new, unopened items with original tags still attached.
The best candles scents to look for include seasonal or limited edition fragrances that didn’t sell out. These are often tossed when the season or collection ends. Popular candle scents from Bath & Body Works include Mahogany Teakwood, Cranberry Woods, Fresh Balsam, and Vanilla Bean Noel.
Discontinued fragrances for hand soaps and body care items also get discarded when they need to make room for new products. You may find retired scents like Dark Kiss, Amber Blush, and Japanese Cherry Blossom unused and sealed.
The bath bombs and fizzy bath products, shower gels, lotions, and massage oils are also frequently tossed when new collections are launched. These can be excellent finds if the packaging is still intact and products are not expired.
Around major holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day, Bath & Body Works may discard holiday-themed items like gift sets and baskets that didn’t sell. You can repurpose or re-gift these if the products inside are still good.
Restaurants & Cafés
Dumpster diving behind restaurants and cafés can yield a lot of perfectly good, unused food. Many dining establishments have strict rules about when food must be thrown out, even if it is still fresh and safe to eat. Bread, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and other prepared foods often get tossed out at closing time each day or night. Some restaurants may also throw away over-ordered ingredients like produce, dairy products, and meats.
The key is to check dumpsters shortly after closing time before the garbage trucks come. Weekday nights are often best. Some bakeries and cafés throw away unsold baked goods first thing in the morning when they bake fresh items. Early morning checks might yield pastries, muffins, scones, and breads that are still very fresh and edible.
When dumpster diving at restaurants, use common sense. Avoid foods that could easily cause illness like raw meat or dairy products. Stick to packaged, prepared, and baked goods. Check expiration dates if present and look for mold. If the food looks and smells fine, it is likely still consumable. Just be sure to refrigerate items quickly and wash produce thoroughly before eating. With a little care, you can get a ton of free meals from restaurant and café dumpsters.
Best Days and Times to Go Dumpster Diving
The best days and times to go to the best stores to dumpster dive depend on when stores typically restock shelves and discard old or expired items. Here are some tips:
Early Weekdays:
Going first thing in the morning on Monday through Wednesday is ideal. This is when many grocery stores and pharmacies restock shelves and clear out soon-to-expire or expired items from the previous week. You’re likely to find discarded yet still fresh groceries, as well as personal care items or medicines that just reached their expiration date. Get there as early as possible, as trash may get picked up mid-morning.
Friday Nights:
Friday evenings can be fruitful times to check dumpsters. Many stores clear out items that expired that week or are nearing expiration. You may find food, beauty supplies, home goods or other products discarded on Fridays. Wait until late evening when fewer employees are around.
Overnight:
After stores close for the night and before opening in the morning is an opportune dumpster diving time. There will be fewer people around, letting you take your time searching through dumpsters. Be aware of any overnight security personnel. Target pre-dawn hours for best access.
Types of Products Typically Tossed
Retail stores end up tossing a surprising amount of still-usable merchandise. Here are some of the most common types of products found in dumpsters:
Expired food/groceries – Grocery stores in particular regularly toss food once it reaches its printed expiration or sell-by date. This is often done for legal liability reasons, even though some items may still be fine to consume if properly inspected. Divers report finding meat, dairy products, baked goods, produce, and canned/packaged goods past their sell-by date but still in consumable condition.
Beauty products past expiration dates – Health and beauty retailers like CVS, Walgreens and Bath & Body Works frequently discard skin care, hair care, cosmetics, and fragrances once they hit their expiration date printed on the packaging. However, beauty products are often still effective and safe to use for some time after.
Slightly damaged goods – Items with minor dents, tears or other cosmetic damage to the packaging are regularly tossed by retailers. The products inside, like canned foods or beauty items, are usually still intact and usable. Stores just don’t want to sell merchandise that looks imperfect.
Unsold seasonal items – After each holiday or change of season, stores will heavily discount and then discard unsold seasonal merchandise. For example, divers report finding costumes and decor after Halloween, wrapping paper after Christmas, or summer clothes in the fall.
Display items/signage – When stores refresh their window displays, end cap promotions or in-store signage, the previous items and fixtures often get thrown out even if still usable or functional. Savvy divers can repurpose these finds.
Legal Considerations
Dumpster diving is technically legal in all 50 states. However, there are some risks and local laws to be aware of:
- Trespassing – Some stores may have signs posted warning that their dumpsters are private property. Entering these areas without permission could risk trespassing charges. Avoid any locked dumpsters or fenced/gated areas.
- Local ordinances – Some cities or counties may have local codes prohibiting dumpster diving or scavenging trash receptacles. Check your local laws before diving.
- Law enforcement – Police may stop and question dumpster divers, especially at night. Be polite in explaining what you’re doing. Have your ID in case they ask.
- Store policies – Most retailers don’t mind dumpster diving, but some may ask you to leave if discovered. Don’t argue with staff.
- Safety hazards – Avoid injuring yourself on broken glass, rusty metal, or unsanitary conditions. Don’t consume food that may be spoiled.
The key is to be discreet, quick, and leave no trace when dumpster diving. As long as you’re not making a mess or causing damage, it’s generally not illegal. But be prepared to move on if asked by staff or police. Avoid any locked, gated, or “no trespassing” areas.
Ethical Considerations
There are ongoing ethical debates around the practice of dumpster diving and salvaging discarded goods. Some view it as unethical and akin to stealing, arguing that once stores discard items, they have relinquished ownership and rights to those products. However, most stores do not grant explicit permission for people to take their discarded goods.
Others argue dumpster diving reduces waste, puts perfectly good items to use, and highlights excessive consumption and wastefulness on the part of retailers. Salvaging and reusing discarded goods is viewed as ethically and environmentally conscious. Some proponents view dumpster diving as a political statement against rampant consumerism and wasteful practices.
There are also concerns around people profiting or making a business off items that were originally meant to be sold. Is it ethical to resell products obtained for free from dumpsters, potentially undercutting the original retailers? This is an ongoing debate with reasonable arguments on both sides.
Ultimately dumpster divers must reflect carefully on their motivations and make ethical choices. Being respectful, minimizing harm, and not abusing dumpster diving practices for pure profit addresses some ethical concerns. But the debate continues around the larger issue of making use of discarded goods.
Best Practices for Safe and Successful Dumpster Diving
When going dumpster diving, it’s important to be respectful and follow best practices to keep yourself and others safe. Here are some key tips:
- Respect the store’s premises and property. Don’t climb fences, force open dumpsters, or trespass. If a dumpster is locked, move on.
- Make sure to close lids and leave the area as you found it. Never litter or leave a mess behind.
- Go dumpster diving in teams of 2-3 people. There’s safety in numbers, and others can act as lookouts.
- Be quick and quiet during your dives. Get in and out efficiently without drawing unnecessary attention.
- Wear gloves, long sleeves, and closed toe shoes to protect yourself. Also bring flashlights for night dives.
- Thoroughly clean and sanitize any finds when you get home before using them.
- If uncertain about the legality of a dumpster or concerned about getting caught, try asking the store manager for permission first.
- Follow all local laws and regulations around trespassing, theft, and dumpster diving. When in doubt, move on to another location.
- Use common sense. If something seems unsafe or not worth the risk, don’t do it. Prioritize your personal safety.
Using Your Finds
Once you’ve successfully dumpster dived, you’ll likely end up with more items than you know what to do with. Here are some of the best ways to make use of your finds:
Keep for Personal Use
Of course, you can keep anything you find for your own personal use. Food, beauty products, tools, clothing – take your pick of what to integrate into your own life. Just be sure to inspect items closely and thoroughly clean anything before using.
Re-gift Quality Items
If you come across items that are still in good, usable condition but not relevant to your own needs, consider re-gifting them. Friends, family members or charity organizations may appreciate your thoughtful dumpster finds. Re-gifting is a great way to give perfectly good items a second life.
Donate Unused Items
Another option for quality dumpster finds is donating them to charity. Many charities accept gently used clothing, shoes, toys, books, small appliances and more. You’ll feel good knowing your trash treasures can benefit others in need. Just be transparent about the source when donating.
Conclusion
Dumpster diving can be a fun and lucrative activity if done properly. By respecting store premises, going at appropriate times, and using common sense, you can safely uncover discarded treasures. Focus your efforts on major retail chains that routinely throw out new, unused merchandise like slightly damaged goods, expired foods and beauty items, unsold seasonal stock, and more. You may be surprised at what gets tossed!
The key is being quick, quiet, and not making a mess so as to avoid problems. Always use gloves and thoroughly clean anything you retrieve. While legal across the US, some local ordinances may restrict digging in dumpsters so check your area’s laws. It’s also smart to dive in teams for safety.
Most importantly, keep in mind that one person’s trash is not necessarily treasure to someone else. Dumpster diving is a personal choice and should be done responsibly. Salvage only what you will use or can donate. Avoid overly greedy grabs that deprive others in need. With some insider knowledge, common courtesy, and a little luck, dumpster diving can be rewarding without being unethical. Happy hunting!
Welcome to the world of Trash Panda, a self-proclaimed and proudly certified Trash Panda of the literary realm! Embracing the art of ‘binning’ in both life and writing, CA dives into the creative dumpsters of imagination, unearthing hidden treasures in the form of quirky tales and whimsical narratives. With a pen as mightier as a raccoon’s paw, he craft stories that resonate with those who dare to embrace the unconventional. Join the journey where every page turned is a win in the adventurous bin of storytelling.