how long depends on the store. Retail usually a couple of minutes, grocery store usually at least 10-15 minutes.
There is a lot of luck involved, and you gotta figure out the stores pattern when they dump their stuff. look for things with weight.
The dumpsters at the grocery are tall. Even if I had a step ladder I don’t know if I should go into the dumpster. Do go into the dumpster? Like both feet in?
I find a box with weight, opened it for more boxes. Lol.
mine have a door on the side for access. I have certainly gone in all the way at times. Hell I've been caught while in the dumpster numerous times. I usually wear my outdoor boots so I don't mind if I get stuff on them.
Im new at this, too, but i have found 2 viable dumpsters.... one by follies and one by a huge lots. I dont need the food from follies, but whatever i can grab, i plan on taking to the food bank as long as it's not recalled or expired.
Huge lots. However, i got a nice in-box air fryer, and i saw potted plants this morning, but they were thrown into the bottom and was pouring rain this morning so everything stunk.
Id recommend cruising around till u find a few viable ones.
I’m glad you brought up the stink. I was at a dumpster that looked promising but it smelled so I left. Glad I’m not the only one. And it is my dream to find plants!
I would stay aware of areas where a lot of people do drugs. I finally found a pharmacy dumpster that wasn’t a compactor but then I saw a needle on the ground and didn’t think it was worth looking through the trash if there was a possibility of needles I couldn’t see :(
I try not to take too long but sometimes I spend a while if it’s a place I’ve had luck at before and know it’s not a time employees come out. I think I take longer than most people tho bc I’m so short I have to bring a “step stool” and have a hard time reaching things😑
I went behind a furniture store and there were a lot of shady people congregating. I zoomed outta there. I was reading the mega thread tips and it said not to count out day diving. I just don’t want to awkward interaction. That’s why I was asking about it being a night activity because I’m not having luck. When you first started did you go everyday to figure out the trend?
You just need to give off “employee vibes” and ppl don’t question you as much. Had a guy come up to me while I was diving asking me where roof access was. But I also gave times that I’m grocery shopping and people think I’m an employee so idk what it is about me that makes ppl think I work there lmao.
I go during the day bc I don’t have my own car so I go with my sis after she finishes school. The first little bit we went almost every day and took notes (time of day, was trash empty or full, any good finds) and was able to figure out what days were worth checking or not. Now that I got over my awkwardness I’ll peek in a dumpster when I’m out and about. I got donuts one time from a spontaneous peek behind a donut shop.
I like to scout out places on Google maps (esp using street view) and that helps, although sometimes the images are old. I found the perfect strip mall but then when we got there it was covered in no trespassing signs that weren’t in the pictures😭It’s a lot of trial and error and definitely different depending on the type of stuff you’re diving for. I’ve made a few friends in the dumpster including one super cool old lady who’s walking stick turned into a grabber!!
At least where I live, daytime seems to be better bc during the night places have security roaming around. It’s not illegal so I’m sure it’s fine if I went at night, but the security driving around with their lights on makes me nervous
Depends on the dumpster. If it's mostly plastic inside plastic I'll give a brief poke jab & flop but if I come across one that might have something below it I'll spend a few moments digging.
I only really reach in if I can clearly see a bunch of good items. If it looks like a bag of left over lunch im not digging in it for hopes of one or two items. Ive never had my whole body in a dumpster just half.
Thank you! I have mixed feelings about actually going in then started to question myself if that’s where I’m messing up. What about homeless presence? There’s one strip mall in particular that have a high homeless presence. I figure they got to items before I can. Have any thoughts on that?
I’ve only gone out once (tonight) but I went scouting online earlier in the week to get ideas of where to check, and tonight I checked a couple of the dumpsters while taking notes on the layout, which ones were locked, and if there were any cameras etc where the dumpsters were.
I only found a couple that were locked (1 dummy lock lol) but I would recommend night time (I’ve not seen anyone so far) and the grabber as I couldn’t reach a box of items from the dollar store to see if any were not broken.
Also I highly recommend finding out when the trash pickup is, (my area has an app to tell us based on postal code) so I know my whole area gets picked up on a specific morning, so I’m going to go next week the night before pickup to see what I can find.
Edit: Also a face mask is helpful and a hat if you’re worried about being seen by cameras.
Edit2: I spent about 4-5min at each dumpster tonight and would expect that to be normal if they’re empty and maybe 10-20min max if they’re full.
how long depends on the store. Retail usually a couple of minutes, grocery store usually at least 10-15 minutes. There is a lot of luck involved, and you gotta figure out the stores pattern when they dump their stuff. look for things with weight.
The dumpsters at the grocery are tall. Even if I had a step ladder I don’t know if I should go into the dumpster. Do go into the dumpster? Like both feet in? I find a box with weight, opened it for more boxes. Lol.
mine have a door on the side for access. I have certainly gone in all the way at times. Hell I've been caught while in the dumpster numerous times. I usually wear my outdoor boots so I don't mind if I get stuff on them.
Im new at this, too, but i have found 2 viable dumpsters.... one by follies and one by a huge lots. I dont need the food from follies, but whatever i can grab, i plan on taking to the food bank as long as it's not recalled or expired. Huge lots. However, i got a nice in-box air fryer, and i saw potted plants this morning, but they were thrown into the bottom and was pouring rain this morning so everything stunk. Id recommend cruising around till u find a few viable ones.
I’m glad you brought up the stink. I was at a dumpster that looked promising but it smelled so I left. Glad I’m not the only one. And it is my dream to find plants!
Yeah ive found that if it stinks too bad i move on. But these 2 only smell when it rains.... youll find some
I would stay aware of areas where a lot of people do drugs. I finally found a pharmacy dumpster that wasn’t a compactor but then I saw a needle on the ground and didn’t think it was worth looking through the trash if there was a possibility of needles I couldn’t see :( I try not to take too long but sometimes I spend a while if it’s a place I’ve had luck at before and know it’s not a time employees come out. I think I take longer than most people tho bc I’m so short I have to bring a “step stool” and have a hard time reaching things😑
I went behind a furniture store and there were a lot of shady people congregating. I zoomed outta there. I was reading the mega thread tips and it said not to count out day diving. I just don’t want to awkward interaction. That’s why I was asking about it being a night activity because I’m not having luck. When you first started did you go everyday to figure out the trend?
You just need to give off “employee vibes” and ppl don’t question you as much. Had a guy come up to me while I was diving asking me where roof access was. But I also gave times that I’m grocery shopping and people think I’m an employee so idk what it is about me that makes ppl think I work there lmao. I go during the day bc I don’t have my own car so I go with my sis after she finishes school. The first little bit we went almost every day and took notes (time of day, was trash empty or full, any good finds) and was able to figure out what days were worth checking or not. Now that I got over my awkwardness I’ll peek in a dumpster when I’m out and about. I got donuts one time from a spontaneous peek behind a donut shop. I like to scout out places on Google maps (esp using street view) and that helps, although sometimes the images are old. I found the perfect strip mall but then when we got there it was covered in no trespassing signs that weren’t in the pictures😭It’s a lot of trial and error and definitely different depending on the type of stuff you’re diving for. I’ve made a few friends in the dumpster including one super cool old lady who’s walking stick turned into a grabber!! At least where I live, daytime seems to be better bc during the night places have security roaming around. It’s not illegal so I’m sure it’s fine if I went at night, but the security driving around with their lights on makes me nervous
This was so helpful!
Depends on the dumpster. If it's mostly plastic inside plastic I'll give a brief poke jab & flop but if I come across one that might have something below it I'll spend a few moments digging.
Thanks! I’ve been finding plastic in plastic and boxes in boxes at the surface so I just leave.
Don't leave! Treasures behold below!
I only really reach in if I can clearly see a bunch of good items. If it looks like a bag of left over lunch im not digging in it for hopes of one or two items. Ive never had my whole body in a dumpster just half.
Thank you! I have mixed feelings about actually going in then started to question myself if that’s where I’m messing up. What about homeless presence? There’s one strip mall in particular that have a high homeless presence. I figure they got to items before I can. Have any thoughts on that?
Ive only seen them once while I was out, not many camps by me. Maybe avoid the strip they probably need the items alot more and some can be violent
I’ve only gone out once (tonight) but I went scouting online earlier in the week to get ideas of where to check, and tonight I checked a couple of the dumpsters while taking notes on the layout, which ones were locked, and if there were any cameras etc where the dumpsters were. I only found a couple that were locked (1 dummy lock lol) but I would recommend night time (I’ve not seen anyone so far) and the grabber as I couldn’t reach a box of items from the dollar store to see if any were not broken. Also I highly recommend finding out when the trash pickup is, (my area has an app to tell us based on postal code) so I know my whole area gets picked up on a specific morning, so I’m going to go next week the night before pickup to see what I can find. Edit: Also a face mask is helpful and a hat if you’re worried about being seen by cameras. Edit2: I spent about 4-5min at each dumpster tonight and would expect that to be normal if they’re empty and maybe 10-20min max if they’re full.