- Looking to start dumpster diving mainly for food items
- Don’t want any issues with the cops
No raw meat.
Don’t hide inside one and be aware of trash days.
Main tip is not to tell everyone your spots
I told some young people once and they got reckless, got caught, and the business slapped on a padlock
Get bolt cutters.
I’d feel like that would be crossing a line that I’ve made for myself. In theory, I’m not opposed, but I feel like the stakes would be much higher once it involves circumventing a lock.
If I were very desperate, I’d do it.
You don’t have to circumvent it, just cut it.
🤔
Will you be my lawyer if I get caught? “Your honor, let the record show that my client wasn’t circumventing the lock – he physically destroyed the lock instead. Nothing further, your honor.”
I’m better at bird law.
Oh, that’s too bad, in that I’m not currently a bird.
Check apartment buildings at the end of the month. That’s when people move out and a lot of people will just huck stuff rather than haul it. We furnished our first three places doing that. Then I had a good side gig going collecting tables and refinishing them.
Check for rat poison first!
While I wouldn’t advise being in dumpsters at all, if you’re going to do so, I can make a few recommendations based on my experiences in dumpsters.
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Bring a ladder of sufficient height inside with you. You might need two to retrieve the ladder inside.
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Be fully clothed, ideally in puncture resistant clothing. Minimum that should be puncture resistant is footwear and gloves.
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Wear an N95 or better. Beyond bacteria, viruses, and mold spores, it will protect you against small particulates.
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Chemical resistant clothing is also advised.
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Be very aware of not only where you step but also the rest of your body in relation to everything around you. Dumpsters can be very slick.
I really advise against this endeavor if you can avoid it. Not only are there significant hazards in the act itself, but there ar additional hazards that you might not be able to detect when consuming items you find in a dumpster. Even if it’s marked for food only, many people disregard the designations of dumpsters.
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I don’t support dumpster diving, unless it’s a necessity. There is a lot of stuff that can make you really sick that goes into those. But, if you are forced because of your situation, be mindful of signs of food spoilage and types of food that are most risky.
Spoilage signs:
- visible mold (green/white/blue/fuzzy, musty odor)
- visible bacterial growth (most likely on moist and liquid items - yellow tint in items that should be clear, white streaks across item surface that shouldn’t be there, smelling “off” - not how it should smell)
High-risk items:
- Meats
- Fish
- Eggs
- Dairy
- High-moisture foods
- Sauces
- High-sugar foods (at high-enough concentrations, sugar is preservative but, we’re talking candied ginger there, not koolaide)
Safest foods are going to be things like dried beans and other legumes (when cooked properly).
Another suggestion would be to keep an eye on late night line cooks. Be friendly and avoid being a nuisance to them or their customers. Some might be friendly, understand your situation (possibly from experience), and offer fresher food than you get from a dumpster. If you build rapport, some might be willing to barter for help with closing tasks.
Yet another suggestion: look into non-profit orgs in your area. If you are not able to afford food for lack of work, some may be able to help.
Look up The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving by John Hoffman.
I don’t know about it’s quality, whether the advice is any good. I just know it exists.
How about a FREE book about it?
https://archive.org/details/The_Art_and_Science_of_Dumpster_Diving_John_Hoffman/mode/1up
Don’t be that asshole who tosses everything out of the dumpster and leaves it strewn around the parking lot or wherever. That shit doesn’t pick itself up.
And just brings attention to the fact that your dumpster diving, making it all the more likely that people will try to stop you
Besides all the other suggestions, keep an eye on recalls and public health alerts (the USDA posts these on their website if you are in the US; I assume most countries have something similar). If something was thrown out due to ecoli or whatever, you’ll probably want to avoid it.
