How to do dumpster diving?

Do you want to try dumpster diving but you are still not sure how to do it?

Look at my tips:

1. Find out if is dumpster diving legal in your country (because it is just good to know…).

2. Go out on daylight and look behind supermarkets in your neighbourhood if any of them are opened, don’t watched by cameras and contain any kind of food/ others usable things. (Containers are often separated to organic waste – such as fruits and vegetable without plastic and others).

3. If you have found anything opened than check out when do they close the shop.

4. The best time to go dumpster diving is at night after closing time – at least 30 minutes /more (to be sure that there is nobody else in the building).

Let’s go to dumpster!

5. Are you ready? Than take some cloths and good shoes you wouldn’t mind to get dirty, flashlight, latex gloves (one use only), plastic bags and backpack to carry all your gain treasures.

6. Just go there, be quiet!, be tidy! and remember that people who are in need take precedence over you! If anyone else would come you should share out what you have found.

What could I take there?

7. You can take whatever you want – if you are capable to use it – if not than let it be!

8. Do not take anything rotten, moldy, stinky …

• Vegetables and fruits are easy to read, just don’t take them if there are on the bottom of the container and if you not trust them.
• Another category are dairy products – everything has to be closed! You don’t have to worry so much about sell by date and the others dates on it – you just have to check it out at home before you eat it – look+smell+taste = is it all ok? than also the product is fine.
• What about meat? I wouldn’t trust it… you never know – at least check out how old is it and what is the temperature.
• Packaged food as muesli, pasta, canes, drinks,… take it and look at home if is everything ok.
• Bread – do not take it if it isn’t wrapped in plastic! Be sure that bakery products are not molded!
• Flowers – yeah! Save them they don’t like to be in a dumpster.
• Books, postcards, electronics, … whatever

9. Take it home and check it one more time by full light. It is important to clean all the stuff – warm water, (soap) will be your friend(s).

10. You have to care of your dumpstered treasures as you would buy them or even better!

Do not waste! 

Lada