Ever heard of Dumpster Diving?

Yes, there are some penny pinchers who will do anything to save a buck. Including, going through the trash.

Dumpster Diving is a growing trend among the thrifty. And, the ones that are down on their luck.

But it’s more dangerous, and gross, than they realize…

What Exactly is Dumpster Diving?

I’ve met people who do it. Hell, I’ve even seen it done!

Now, I’m not referring to thrift store picking, ‘curb alerts’ or yard sale giveaways. Nor am I pointing out people who are so down on their luck, like the homeless, that must use public garbage cans as a means of finding food.

‘Dumpster Diving’ is the act of going to a retail store (be it a grocery store, cosmetics retailer, etc.) after hours. And literally climbing into the dumpster to retrieve items that staff has thrown away.

Yes – instead of just buying candles from Bath & Body Works…there are people willing to climb into a dumpster in hopes of finding a stash that a clerk has thrown away.

It’s way more popular than you think, even though a lot of people won’t admit they actually do it. But enough do it, that there’s lists of the best places to dumpster dive. Seriously.

Why would someone want to go through the dumpster?

Remember, we are not talking about people who must scavenge as a means of survival. This is not a bullying blog, regardless of the reasons people do this.

But the kind of dumpster divers I want to point out, aren’t necessarily diving out of a dire need. Most often it’s because they want a deal..a freebie, if you would.

Best Buy sells electronics, not dire necessities. Yet, every night there’s a few people stalking the parking lot, waiting on the last clerk to leave. They’ll hoist themselves into a hot, steel dumpster, in hopes of finding…well, anything.

I mean, I guess it sounds interesting – depending on which stores you go to. Maybe Sephora has a ton of unused $50 lipsticks? Or an entire bathroom set at Target dumpsters, maybe?

Wait…would Gucci have tossed aside slides???

Well, it’s not just so easy….

Many “Divers” have their work cut out for them.

More and more retailers are trying to prevent the… er, ‘fruits’ of this  labor.

Ulta was caught pouring bleach on their trashed makeup.  Many clothing retailers take box cutters to their apparel, and most electronic companies will smash devices so they can’t be resold if found.

“Why would retailers go through the trouble? It’s trash!”

Exactly – it’s trash. But it’s trash for many reasons.

Makeup cannot safely be sold or used after a certain date. And once it’s sat in the dumpster for a few days? Ripe for contamination and bacteria.

Not to mention that it’s often tester products that are trashed, and God only knows how many fingers have been digging in that. Do you really want all of Ultas customers in your eyes?

Retailers often destroy products so they can’t be resold by scavengers – which a lot of people do in order to make extra cash.

It’s one thing to wear expired eyeliner you retrieved out the garbage…but to sell it to someone without them knowing? I couldn’t do it myself, it just seems wrong. But then again, I am the kind of person who throws away expired makeup I barely used, because I don’t want skin infections.

Certainly makes you think twice when you see someone selling unused makeup on Facebook for half the price it is in the store…

I certainly understand the retailers point of view. The products aren’t deemed acceptable for resale, for whatever reason. If I had a business, and knew that there were people just waiting on me to throw something away that couldn’t be sold for health or quality reasons, just to flip it themselves and make a 100% profit, I’d be pretty upset.

Is it really ok for someone who didn’t buy the product, or work for it, to take it out the garbage and create a business selling it?

Seems a little…unethical (and borderline theft). Re-purposing old furniture from a junk store is one thing…but digging iPads out the trash is different.

It’s not just retail brands either. Restaurants have trouble with people stealing grease and reselling it on the black market to be used as biofuel.

Some people have even made entire careers of reselling brand new items found in the trash on eBay.

But is Dumpster Diving Illegal?

While the act itself, is usually not prohibited. However, trespassing and vandalism, is. And it’s up to the property owners to enforce this if they don’t want people messing around their dumpster.

Some states do ban the practice altogether, more so for safety reasons.

The Dangers of Dumpster Diving

Aside from expired and used makeup being riddled with germs, there are grosser reasons you shouldn’t dumpster dive.

Dumpsters are nasty! While the products are, usually, bagged up in clean bags – the container holding the products is a different story.

Dirt, grease from a staff members fast food, and you don’t even want to know what else, is in the dumpster too. (Think back to any bar you’ve been unfortunate enough to be standing outside of that had a dumpster. Yes, there’s bodily fluids in there)  Not just fine retail products up for the taking.

Many people have also broken limbs, cut themselves on broken glass, or worse.

Is tetanus worth getting a few DVD players to sell for $10 a pop on Craigslist?

I understand why people do it…

I don’t want to come off as… harsh, here.

Maybe you can’t afford those Bath & Body Works candles.

And maybe you have figured out selling “recovered” Victoria’s Secret bras on Facebook resale groups, is helping pay the bills.

I get it. It’s not as bad as having to literally eat out of the garbage. And, it’s not really hurting anyone…right?

But I think every “freegan” needs to ask themselves a few serious questions.

• Is it worth potentially going to jail if the business has surveillance cameras?
• But is it worth taking home swarms of germs and bacteria home to my family?
• Is it worth making someone sick by using expired, damaged products?

Sometimes, you gotta do what it takes, to get thing things you want (or, need).

But honestly – if you’re doing this to score free makeup and out of date smartphones to make a quick buck?

Reconsider. It’s ultimately safer for you, and everyone else, if you just buy stuff instead of jumping in the dumpster for it.

Honestly, Fenty Beauty is NOT worth getting sick, getting hurt, or going to jail. Neither is a television.