You wouldn’t normally associate the image of someone in America or Europe diving into a rubbish bin to search for reusable trash. But dumpster diving (thankfully) is neither a post-apocalyptic survival technique nor a statement of an economy on the downturn. It is more of a social trend, a hobby, or better still – an environmental statement.

Dumpster diving is urban scavenging in search of items that can be recycled into something useful or turned into cash. Plus, as the Wikipedia page on the subject tells you, rummaging through your neighborhood garbage bin has uses for students, artists, and even scientists. So, if you have already started endorsing dumpster diving, here are ten resources that can help you learn more.

Wikihow

The online how-to manual gives you a one page brief and concise introduction to the ‘sport’ of diving into dumpsters. As it is described elsewhere too, Wikihow also says - one man's trash is another man's treasure! In your excitement to scout out the nearest dumpster, don’t forget to read the section on warnings.

Trashwiki

guide to dumpster diving

Trashwiki is a great resource for those with an alternative lifestyle. Though it probably hasn’t been updated since 2011, 742 articles on trash and how to extract value from it make for a lot of tips. Trashwiki has dedicated articles on dumpster diving, skipping waste, and freeganism. Check out the external links on the wiki which give you a few more information sources on skipping (as the British call it). Some of the links don’t work though.

Dumpster Divers Paradise [No Longer Available]

guide to dumpster diving

This is a place where you can share your experiences – the good and the bad – while pursuing dumpsters. Topic forums provide tips, advice, suggestions and funny stories, all on dumpster diving. Then there is a forum for meeting other divers and a great place to find deals, bargains, coupons and much more. Go over the Frequently Asked Questions where queries like ‘Is dumpster diving legal?’, ‘Is dumpster diving safe?’, and a few more have been answered. But of course, as the site says, you should also do your own research.

Freegan Info

guide to dumpster diving

Freegans are our modern day salvagers especially when it comes to food. Freeganism is the practice of reclaiming and eating food that has been discarded. One can place it as a key part of the dumpster lifestyle. The site is like an outreach platform for freegans in the U.S. and around the world too. The site highlights events, meetings, group dives into dumpsters, and other organizational and community meets that promote the alternate lifestyle. There is a calendar of events you can check out. Freegan Info also has Dumpster Directory for recycling stuff retailers throw out.

Frugal Village

dumpster diving finds

Frugal Village and its tips on how to live a frugal life may not be directly on dumpster diving, but it is correlated as both their objectives crisscross. The site stresses on eco-frugality, something that is at the center of scavenging and recycling junk. Sara Noel shares practical advice on money saving tips, debt reduction, budgeting, DIY projects, crafts and more from her own experience. Dumpster divers would do well to check out similar sites so that they can recycle stuff in alternative ways.

The Living Web

dumpster diving finds

The Living Web is another one brief stopover for those wanting to know all about the activity. The webpage (or article) has lots of interesting links and tidbits that can help to motivate you to take the dive. For instance, you can dumpster dive for charity, turn trash into art, and even make money for yourself in the flea market. If you plan to really go into it, also look into the recommended book.

The Freecycle Network

dumpster diving finds

People throw away perfectly good items. That’s where you come – the intrepid dumpster diver. But what do you do with extras that you salvage? Use The Freecycle Network and its local network to give away the stuff and earn a few eco-brownie points. The network has representations worldwide with 5,041 groups with 8,952,412 members. What you take out from the dumpster ultimately helps to reduce the size of the landfills and protects the environment.

Yahoo Groups

I haven’t joined this group to check it out more thoroughly because I am wary of the deluge of emails from members of the Yahoo group of dumpster divers. If you are looking to be one, join in. There are 979 of them already there, so there should be a lot to learn and talk about.

YouTube

http://youtu.be/I5C-dcvr8DY

From Howcast video tutorials on how to dumpster dive to videos from around the world, except to find a ton of riches even before you jump into your first trash can. DannysCam is one of the largest channels with 503 videos, though not all are on the hobby. The Salvage Army has its own presence too.

MeetUp

The MeetUp site is a great place to find fellow dumpster divers near your area and plan or attend a meet-up. Dumpster diving at its best is a group activity, so if there’s one happening in your area or if you want to start one, the world's largest network of local groups could be of help. You are sure to find a few interested friends among the 9.5 million members of the social site. There are 5,000+ enthusiasts according to the site.

These are the best websites on the subject that I could find. Maybe because it’s still on the fringes of mainstream. Have I missed a blinder here? If you are a dumpster diving buff you would know. If you think dumpster diving is for those who want to live off the grid, let us know your feelings – is it just an alternative lifestyle fad or does it have its uses?

For recycling stuff, read up on some of our past posts:

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons