Let me start out with this -- the only reason I'm sharing my tried and true method of dumpster diving is because it hasn't been shared on this site before and the likelihood of one of YOU encroaching on my dumpster diving territory is highly unlikely.

Dumpster diving is a not so popular way to get free stuff. It's easy to see why most people turn their noses up at the thought of dumpster diving. Dumpsters evoke nastiness, slime, rotten food, bad smell, flies, and used toilet paper. And why would there be anything of value in the dumpster? Somebody threw that out for a reason. Why risk your health and respectability for someones trash?

While these are valid arguments, and often apply, it IS possible to circumvent the grossness, while pulling in a massive amount of loot including clothes, school supplies, and electronics. This, however, requires careful planning, knowledge, and a little bit of shamelessness.

So when you're ready, I will show you the RIGHT way to go about dumpster diving.

Step 1: Oh Ye of Little Faith

If you are already sold, this is not for you

WHY DUMPSTER DIVING IS WORTH IT:
If you're beginning to think its not worth it, take a look at the cover picture. It is the very real result of one day's worth of dumpster diving. It's just too bad it couldn't all fit within the camera's field of view. Still not convinced? Because of dumpster diving I have spent next to nothing on school supplies the last 2 years.

Dumpster Diving is an issue of civic responsibility. There are Salvation Army bins throughout the dorms for giving away gently used clothing and shoes. Why then are there shoes in the dumpster with the tissue paper still inside them? By dumpster diving, I am saving landfill space and not buying a pair of shoes that I don't need.

Step 2: The Secret: Where/When to Dumpster Dive

This is the secret to my successful dumpster diving.

Go to college dorm dumpsters when the students are moving out.

There, that's it.

Every college has a required move out date. However, no student has enough room to pack all of the "dorm stuff" they've accrued into their mom's Suburban. An unholy amount of perfectly good stuff goes into the dumpster SIMPLY BECAUSE THE STUDENTS DON'T HAVE ROOM TO TAKE IT HOME. They don't just throw out gross stuff they don't want. Although some of the dumpsters have actual garbage in them, the bulk of it is good stuff that didn't fit into Dad's trunk. That means all the unused school supplies, lightly used electronics, and lightly worn clothes are up for grabs!

Unfortunately this method of diving gives you a VERY small window to succeed in. Careful planning is needed.
To put things into perspective, 3 days after the enormous haul in the intro picture, the dumpsters were stripped of everything useful. Timing is everything.

First, find a college near you. If you want to get fancy choose the one with the highest tuition/living expenses. This was easy for me because I live on campus at UCI (my family works there).

Second, find the move-out date. Call the campus or poke around the college's webpage, it'll be there. Choosing the day is tricky, and you might want to go on multiple consecutive days. Choose a day before the actual move out date (the Friday/Saturday before is usually a good bet). If you have time, go to the dorms, and look around. If there are parents/students packing their cars, you have picked the right day. Dive ahead.

Third, scout the dumpsters you plan to raid. Keep in mind, dumpsters have to be accessible from the road (for the garbage truck). Google Maps is a good tool, but it can be tricky to spot dumpsters/dumpster houses without knowing what you are looking for. Some form of scouting, virtual or physical, is a good idea.

Step 3: Prepare Yourself: What to Bring

Your loadout can be pretty simple.

The only things you NEED are long pants and closed toed shoes, for safety and hygiene reasons.

Keeping the following on you can be helpful:
>> A Folding Knife -- (for slashing open trash bags)
>> A Poker -- (for rooting through dumpsters, you can always find one though)
>> A Screwdriver -- (for parts scavenging eg. speakers, circuits, computer parts)
>> Pliers/Multitool -- (for parts scavenging)
>> Transportation -- (you don't want to be walking home with all the booty you're going to find. Best thing is to bring a car. However, my first time, I did it with a bike and a backpack, but if you have a car why limit yourself?)

I ought to say -- dumpster diving can be dangerous. I've never gotten hurt, but say someone throws out a bed frame or a couch. There could be nails/staples/screws sticking out, so just be cautious. A dumpster is a bad place to get cut up. I had to stay home from school for 3 weeks because I skinned my elbow in a nasty parking lot and got cellulitis. The same could happen in a dumpster. If you get cut, give it medical attention.

Step 4: Legality

Dumpster Diving has been a grey area for a long time. There have been cases of people being arrested/detained for dumpster diving. Don't act/dress suspiciously. From a legal standpoint, the previous owner has relinquished ownership of whatever you take once they throw it away. So you should be fine. If you are told to leave, then leave. Play it safe.

I have encountered policemen while I was actually in a dumpster: he didn't care at all. Maybe it was because me and my buddy looked like college students throwing stuff away instead of scavengers. Maybe it was because he is a diver himself. The point is, if you are approached by a cop, be straight. Tell him or her what you are doing, and submit to his or her judgement.

Step 5: What to Look For

Every dumpster is different. Don't go diving looking for something, because you won't find it. Keep an open mind, thinking of potentially useful things such as:

>> Clothing (jackets)
>> Shoes
>> TVs, DVD Players, Speakers, Printers
>> Sealed Food
>> Useful cables
>> Presents for other people (seriously, diving with other people in mind can be a whole other experience)
>> Furniture
>> Decorations
>> Office Supplies
>> Lumber

School Supplies:
This is a GREAT time to stock up on stuff for the next school year! There are clothes, school supplies (pencils, pens, notebooks), printers, TVs etc.

AVOID THESE:
>> Anything wet
>> Toilet trash bags
>> Unsealed food
>> Glass (This is important. Some dumpsters can have a lot of potentially broken glass in them eg. liquor bottles. Stay away from them)

Some people leave working items outside the dumpster when they throw it away, but in most cases, you'll have to do a little bit of digging to get to the good stuff. You really don't need gloves, just start moving things around.

You may need to actually get in, and walk on top of some trash. It's not a big deal, and you don't sink into garbage or anything. Its easy to find solid places to put your feet. That way you stay on top of the trash while being able to search for the good stuff.

Step 6: My Best Finds

These are the best of my finds from one day at the UCI dumpsters with a buddy and his minivan. If this doesn't fire you up, nothing will.

There are 2 dumpster diving sayings of the day.
1. Why would someone throw this away?
2. We should wash this..

Here is the complete list of the items we found that day (in the intro picture)

CLOTHING:
>> 3 Jackets
>> Striped dress shirt
>> Purple tie
>> Jeans
>> 5 pairs of shoes (in my size)
>> 2 Sweaters
>> A set of scrubs
>> Beatles t-shirt
>> Pair of suspenders
>> ~10of Rockstar trucker hats
>> The Pokemon hat that Ash wears
>> 3 Handbags
>> 2 pairs of sandals
>> 2 belts
>> 2 cowboy hats
>> Orange bandana
>> Red wool winter hat
>> 2 pairs of sunglasses
>> Red Fez

FOOD:   (all sealed)
>> 3 packages of Chocolate bars
>> Assorted Ghirardelli chocolates
>> 3 pack of gum
>> Pink Lemonade
>> 48 pack of Top Ramen

Electronics: (all working unless otherwise indicated)
   >> HP Pavillion dv6 Laptop
   >> Electric Violin
>> iPod Classic 32gb
>> Broken Megaphone
>> Electric piano sustain pedal (still in box!)
>> Spore for PC (unopened)
>> Smashed PS3

Other:
>> Pair of crutches
>> Bicycle helmet
>> Post-it booklet
>> A Civilians Guide to the US Military
>> Caution tape
>> Inappropriate Calendar
>> Bouncy ball
>> Box of resume paper
>> Umbrella
>> LA Lakers licence plate rim

Thanks for reading! Now start planning your next diving adventure next June.