“I Don’t Pay for Clothes or Shampoo”... People Save on Living Costs and Make Money by Dumpster Diving

Save on living costs by using or reselling discarded items
From household goods and clothes to sealed food... a wide range of finds

So-called "dumpster diving," the practice of taking discarded items from trash bins to use or resell them, is gaining attention as a new way to save money.

Dumpster diving content posted on social media. TikTok screenshot.

On Nov. 3 (local time), the BBC featured people who practice dumpster diving. They use items they find in trash bins themselves, give them to people who need them, or, in some cases, resell them for a profit.

Daryl Baker, 39, who lives in north London, said he had saved hundreds of pounds over the past six months by picking up usable household items and clothes from trash bins. "I started taking things after I found a pile of clothes in a trash bin near a local supermarket," he said. "Recently, I sold a men's jacket I found in a trash bin for 30 pounds (about 54,000 won)."

Jeff Farrell, 72, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, has been searching through trash bins for more than 50 years. He rides his bicycle every day looking for discarded items. He also finds things in affluent neighborhoods and gives them to people who need them. "Almost everything in my house is something I picked up," Jeff said. "I don't buy soap, toiletries, medical supplies, shoes, clothes, tools or gardening supplies." He added, "I sometimes earn about $150 (about 210,000 won) every two weeks by selling discarded metal to scrap dealers."

Charlotte Bayford, 44, who lives in Essex, England, looks for items when university students head home for the summer holidays. Many students throw away things they cannot take with them. She picks up sealed food and toiletries, among other items. "I haven't bought shampoo in eight years," Charlotte said. "That alone has saved me quite a bit of money."

Photo not directly related to the specific content of the article. Pexels

However, taking items from trash bins is not always permitted. Some U.S. cities, including New York, Cleveland and Wichita, have made dumpster diving illegal. This is because ownership of discarded items may pass to local governments or waste collection companies, and people accessing trash bins may also face trespassing charges.

In the United Kingdom, the legal status of taking discarded items also depends on the circumstances. Sanjay Bhasin, a lawyer at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, said, "It is unlikely that someone would be prosecuted simply for taking a discarded item," but added, "The fact that something has been put in a trash bin does not mean anyone is free to take it." He continued, "If you are unsure, the safest option is to ask the owner of the item or the relevant company for permission."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.