Beginners and Beyond

12

Dumpster Diving (Read 126 times)

Philliefan33


    It's not dumpster diving, but there is an unwritten code in our neighborhood that anything put out on the curb is for the taking. We've put out stuff we don't want and then have watched to see how long it takes to get picked up. We also got a computer desk that way.

     

     

    Same here.  There's no dumpsters in the neighborhood, trash gets put on the curb.  There's been a few times that I've finished my run, then gotten in the pickup to rescue a treasure that I noticed on my run.  In fact, all of the Adirondack chairs around the fire pit at our mountain house were picked up from the curb, repaired, and repainted.  We call in the island of misfit chairs.

    adkkev


      One should spend some time at the transfer stations in Fairbanks, AK ... there are people who wait at those stations & go through the "trash" that others throw into the dumpsters.  And there is a special spot set up (kinda like a pavilion) to place items that one might feel someone else could use.  Lots of stuff gets re-purposed up there ... mostly out of necessity.

      LRB


        There's been a few times that I've finished my run, then gotten in the pickup to rescue a treasure that I noticed on my run. 

         

        A lady friend once asked me to help her get a chair from the curb.  I didn't wanna but that's what friends are for right - ugh!  So we get there and she starts going through some of the other stuff while I load the stupid thing in her trunk, when all of a sudden some teenagers on a porch a few doors down started yelling, "GARBAGE PICKERS!  LOOK AT THE GARBAGE PICKERS!  GARBAGE, GARBAGE, GARBAGE PICKERS!"

         

        I was so freakin' embarrassed that I think I turned as a red as a tomato! Yes, me!  Funny thing though was that it did not faze her in the least!

         

        Fast forward 20 years and I got a dresser for one of my daughters dorm room from the curb and she turned as red as a tomato!  lol  Shoot, I was not paying for a new one, screw that!  Humility comes much easier the older you get!

        happylily


           

          A lady friend once asked me to help her get a chair from the curb.  I didn't wanna but that's what friends are for right - ugh!  So we get there and she starts going through some of the other stuff while I load the stupid thing in her trunk, when all of a sudden some teenagers on a porch a few doors down started yelling, "GARBAGE PICKERS!  LOOK AT THE GARBAGE PICKERS!  GARBAGE, GARBAGE, GARBAGE PICKERS!"

           

          I was so freakin' embarrassed that I think I turned as a red as a tomato! Yes, me!  Funny thing though was that it did not faze her in the least!

           

          Fast forward 20 years and I got a dresser for one of my daughters dorm room from the curb and she turned as red as a tomato!  lol  Shoot, I was not paying for a new one, screw that!  Humility comes much easier the older you get!

           

          This made me laugh. Big grin

          PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013

                  Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013

          18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010

          Philliefan33


            Every May, in the area of Philadelphia surrounding The University of Pennsylvania, it's "Penn Christmas".  Students graduating / leaving Penn put all sorts of good things out on the curb; most of it gets picked up and used by poor graduate or medical students moving in.

            Awood_Runner


            Smaller By The Day

              I took a chair from the curb once.  It was really nice.  Then, I saw them hauling more furiture out and looking for the chair.  They waited for the truck to bring out the rest.  I love that chair.

              Improvements

              Weight 100 pounds lost

              5K 31:02 Sept. 2012 / 23:36 Sept. 2013 (Same Course)

              10K 48:59 April 2013

              HM 2:03:56 Nov. 2012 / 1:46:50 March 2013

              MARATHON 3:57:33 Nov. 2013

              Love the Half


                It's not dumpster diving, but there is an unwritten code in our neighborhood that anything put out on the curb is for the taking. We've put out stuff we don't want and then have watched to see how long it takes to get picked up. We also got a computer desk that way.

                 

                DH likes to dive in the city's paper recycle bin for books and magazines.

                 

                When I lived in a more working class neighborhood, I could easily get rid of things overnight.  All I had to do was put it out by the curb.  Now that I've moved to the 'burbs, I have to call Waste Management to pick it up and, no matter what I stick out there, it will stay there until Waste Management does in fact pick it up.

                Short term goal: 17:59 5K

                Mid term goal:  2:54:59 marathon

                Long term goal: To say I've been a runner half my life.  (I started running at age 45).

                camille2


                  One should spend some time at the transfer stations in Fairbanks, AK ... there are people who wait at those stations & go through the "trash" that others throw into the dumpsters.  And there is a special spot set up (kinda like a pavilion) to place items that one might feel someone else could use.  Lots of stuff gets re-purposed up there ... mostly out of necessity.

                   

                  I immediately thought of this when I saw the title. : )   The recycle platform is even covered to protect the items.  It was a great place to leave good stuff when moving and the town has a lot of turnover in population.

                  happylily


                    I took a chair from the curb once.  It was really nice.  Then, I saw them hauling more furiture out and looking for the chair.  They waited for the truck to bring out the rest.  I love that chair.

                     

                    Big grin

                    PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013

                            Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013

                    18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010

                      Nothing wrong with picking.

                       

                      My office chair at work is picked, as is the microwave stand in my kitchen.  My best find (during high school) was a canoe.  It was fiberglass with a hole the size of a quarter; nothing a cheap fiberglass patch kit from the hardware store couldn't solve.

                      Brrrrrrr


                      Uffda

                        We do have an all-city 'picking' day that has gotten out of hand. It used to be like someone from out of town would cruise around in a pickup and grab a decent looking microwave. What it's turned in to is people hauling large trailers, and cutting the cords off of literally anything for the speck of copper in them. Even though I've gotten a few items from the curb, I don't really care for the whole spectacle that it's become.

                         

                        I have gotten a few things from this:

                        • I did get my last lawn mower (Craftman with a bagger on it). It needed a rewind, so I payed about $30 for one of those through Sears.
                        • I got a stationary bicycle that was in good condition. It was actually only a block away, so at the end of my run I just picked it up and hauled it to my house. I bet that was a sight. I gave it to a friend of mine who is overweight and has problems walking. He needed something for exercise. A few days later I did see another stationary bike that was very nice in very good condition, but I didn't want to have 2 stationary bikes. It was the kind with the big rotating fan in the front with the large metal grate.
                        • I picked up a camping chair with bag in good condition.

                        - Andrew

                        RSX


                          Our town is great at taking everything curbside. When we have something of interest for someone else we put it out a day early, and most times they are gone before the trash gets picked up. Any big metal items are probably gone in 30 minutes.

                          Venomized


                          Drink up moho's!!

                            So far what I can remember picking up for free.

                             

                            3 kids bikes (1 of them just needed air in the tires)

                            1 women's 26" 10-speed bike.  Needs an intertube and the front wheel trued up

                            1 plastic frog sand box

                            1 toddler bed in perfect condition

                            1 wooden 7 foot ladder, all it needed was to tighten up the bolts through each of the steps

                            10 plastic chairs.  Cleaned them up and used them for a back yard BBQ then tossed them later

                            12