Garden Junk Forum
This forum is for the discussion of the creative use of found objects in the garden. Click Here.
Turning Trash into Art
 Cracked Pots Garden Art from Recycled Materials
Dumpster Diversion Project
Dumpster Diving for Profit and Passion
Meet this group of artists, collectors and junkaholics — founding members of Philadelphia’s Dumpster Divers — who are constantly in search of discarded cultural artifacts ranging from marbles to Lego pieces to create their specialized work.
Trashopia.com To encourage recycling and creative reuse through educational displays and events.
 SCRAP ( Scroungers' Center for Re-Usable Art Parts) acts as a nonprofit conduit for unwanted materials. SCRAP collects materials from businesses and individuals that would other wise be thrown away, and distributes them to art and educational groups.
Recipients of materials include schools, daycare centers, museums, homeless shelters, senior citizen groups, neighborhood centers, theater groups, summer camps, and many other nonprofit groups. These organizations transform SCRAP materials into sculptures, paintings, and other masterpieces.
Making Money from Trash
Selling at Flea Markets Sketch of a metal "market stand"
Where and How to Dive
Dumpster Diving: What It Is ... and How to Do It.
Dumpsters of Central Alaska... or Where We Find The "Good Stuff"
The Dumpster Lady's Frequently Asked Questions "Is it legal?" "When to dive" "What to do when confronted" and more. Excellent!
Confessions of a Bottom Feeder
Another Confessions of a Bottom Feeder
"I dumpster dive every weekend with my kids. They love it, and so do I. My oldest is the envy of all the kids on the block because he has his own TV. With the exception of buying new mattresses, I have furnished an entire house on dumpster dive finds. One can find dishes, glasses, bedding (washed in bleach in hot water of course), furniture, tables, the list goes on. There is nothing I haven't been able to find in a dumpster. We have the best luck in dumpsters around apartments. Especially around the first of the month. Kind of keep an eye out for the apartment complexes that seem to have high turn over rate. And then around the first of the month, you can find clothes, furniture, lamps, dishes. I take it all and then once a month load the car up with the baby clothes and other things that I have found and don't need, and donate them to the Goodwill. To be perfectly honest, I haven't had to buy my kids clothes in a very long time. Others are so willing to throw theirs out. Just make sure to wear good shoes and stuff because there is always a lot of glass and stuff around. I haven't done this, but I have read that one can even find food in dumpsters behind grocery stores and bread stores. It's possible, but I can't seem to take dumpster diving to that "level." My favorite stories are the ones where people have supposedly found antiques and the likes from dumpsters. I'd sure like that to happen to me!!!"
The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving (and how some folks have supported themselves and their families!)
Trash Thrash "The ins and outs, ups and downs of dumpster diving.... sharp- eyed divers have scored such bounty as a working Pentium computer (sans keyboard), numerous mice, modems, and other computer supplies; color TVs, chairs, china, jewelry (one guy found an engagement ring in a trash bin and promptly proposed to his girlfriend); a Ralph Lauren suede skirt, a complete swing record collection, a set of lawn furniture, wood scraps and lumber (often used for firewood); a set of slides from someone's trip to Moscow, miles of Christmas lights, an Asteroids video game player, a loaded handgun (excuse me?), $37.27 worth of pennies in a shoe box, and even--someone "swears to God"--a John Deere tractor...."
Some Good Dumpster Diving Tips
Freeman Z's Guide to Dumpster Diving
Curbside Diving (with Photos!)
Dumpster Tech: Your New Computer Could Be Waiting... But Don't Inhale
Dumpster Dive! Krystyn Wells scavenges Oak Park's alleys for trash treasures, finding everything but the kitchen sink... including the bathroom sink.
Click here for the rest of the story.
Confessions of a Dumpster Diver
For more great poetry by Elsie Ann, Click here
Diving and the Law
Is it Legal?
The Facts About Diving in New Hampshire Interesting links to Supreme Court ruling... FBI Bulletin... and also a place to share your finds. Includes an interesting note on how Chuck E. Cheese smashes their discarded games.
Garbage Picking is Legal! Well, even if it might be legal... here are some tips to protect yourself from those who think it isn't.
Who Owns the Trash? It's Not Who You Think!! vs Your Trash is Public Domain
Newsgroups
alt.dumpster
Dumpster Divers Paradise Yahoo Group with 400+ members discuss their finds.
Dumpster Poetry
Dumpster Dive! by Elsie Ann Shannon
Are you homeless? You'll survive.
Take a tip and dumpster dive!
Jump a dumpster —— It's okay.
No one will get in your way.
Sneak up on it snaily slow,
pirouette and do-si-do:
Protocol is satisfied.
Do a flip and hop inside!
Find you there whate'er you need.
Food and clothing? Guaranteed!
Gourmet dining interest you?
Grubs aplenty, almost new.
Eat it raw. Slurp some slime.
If it moves, it's dinnertime!
Rub it well, now. Don't be dumb.
Never know where That came from.
Follow fashions? Try some on.
Dumpster duck to dumpster swan!
Party dress and evening gown ——
maybe these'll sell uptown.
Swipe a sweater. Share a shoe.
Huff a quicky. Sniff some glue.
Loot the laundry. Wear a wig.
Pop a cork and have a swig.
Lousy weather? Listen, Sid,
many dumpsters have a lid.
If you're bored of standing still,
roll your dumpster down a hill!
Everything you need's in there.
Bounty's plenty. All can share.
When you're finished, don't explode.
There's another down the road. |
Contrary to popular opinion, dumpster diving is not just a means of survival for the homeless or the "down and out". 
At the time, unattended dumpsters were the way garbage was dealt with in all but the most urban areas of Western North Carolina. Whole houseful's of belongings would often wind up in the dumpsters ... creating an afternoon's worth of entertainment... a veritable "archeological dig" of sorts as you progressed through layers of discarded objects... looking for "the good stuff".
Yielding treasures to be cherished like the cast iron monkey doorstop that's followed me to Philadelphia and back... or the numerous household and clothing items that found their way to Asheville's Dreamland Flea Market, helping pay the $435 a month rent on our 3 story, 4 bedroom 3 bath rental. Another amazing find!
Not only was one of the chairs a great find, but inside of the dumpster I spotted an HP color monitor. I brought it home and hooked it up to my computer. It worked perfectly. I now finally had a place to hang the speakers that had come with my computer -- and could build webpages and see them in vibrant color.
A matched set of four pink Pyrex refrigerator dishes from the '50's. Sold them on eBay for around $55.00.