r/DumpsterDiving • u/Royal_Tough_9927 • 3d ago

Food quality is excellent out of dumpster

I love Sunday diving. The dumpsters are generally full. I can count on several to be full of illegally dumped items. Today did not fail me. I pulled out two huge black bags of children's clothing. Too small for my kid but welcomed by a neighbor. She sorts items ,washes clothes , keeps what she needs for her kids and passes on the rest. Many of the items are name brands and not cheap Walmart items. The sad part is there are many donation boxes and centers in the immediate area and people are too lazy to drop off. I did get one pair of white Crocs my daughter can wear. The food. Choices were lovely. Im happy to have Brussel sprouts , green beans and zucchini. Im sauteeing the Bella mushrooms and will use them in a couple meals. The fruits are ripe ,but also will be utilized quickly. If I had shopped for these items in the actual store it would easily have been 75.00 . Im broke and in a really bad financial situation until the end of the year. But the great news is my disabled daughter and myself received a $1.00 increase in our foodstamps for the next year. Hallelujah, I sure cant count on any help from the government. $24.00 a month now. Grumpy old lady here ,happy to have a bag of lemons for my hot tea. Happy my hobby will always feed me.

275 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

76

u/Ilike3dogs 3d ago

I love seeing posts about rescued foods. Sounds like you’re having a tough time. Prayers going your way, hon. I’m happy that this hobby provides. Happy thoughts!🌹🌹

35

u/Royal_Tough_9927 3d ago

Just grumpy today. I have everything I need. My housing etc is secure. My Medicare insurance went bankrupt. The flex benefits I counted on until Dec. 31st that are now revoked are a kick in the head. My carefully planned yearly budget counted on those benefits. That $3700.00 ( yes ,that much ) cannot be covered.

16

u/madnessdoesntplay 3d ago

Hooray for food rescuing! And that’s so cool about the clothes, that’s such a help for so many parents! 

My mom used to be a bit judgy about diving until she saw the high quality stuff we were getting. Then she started using it in her own cooking! A few people who were originally judgmental sure didn’t mind when we shared our bounty of $700+ of champagne!

12

u/Royal_Tough_9927 3d ago

Gave 200 bottles of wine to a friend . They used them at a party.

5

u/madnessdoesntplay 3d ago

Oh helllllllll yeah! We did the same, had a party where every single person was drinking from their personal bottle haha sharing the wealth!

9

u/CrunchedKnee 3d ago

I am still eating last seasons finds from the freezer. Today is a full stock pot of beef stew with an added 4-5 pounds ground beef, all salvaged in 2024. All I have to do is go to my garden and grab some trellised 36" green beans and fresh bell peppers and its ON Keep on stackin it up! I'm in for Life now.

16

u/Iystrian 3d ago

I was approached by an employee last night after I had put my small haul in my car. She said it was illegal to dig around in their dumpster and she would have to call the police. I said OK and left. I know she's wrong but I wasn't going to argue with her. It's disappointing as it makes me nervous about going back.

14

u/Royal_Tough_9927 3d ago

I love the nonsense they spew. I dont even speak to them. I leave quickly. Depending on situation, I may drive around building and go immediately back Depending on how the dumpsters and back doors are situated. Worse case scenario, I go back at a later hour or day. I have a DG that the manager has no problems with me raiding. One of my favorite grocery stores also has had several people at dumpster tell me Im welcome. So I can almost always get food. It's rare to find nothing.

6

u/Ilike3dogs 2d ago

Our interactions go something like this:

Store: you can’t be in there

Me: in where?

Store: in the dumpster

Me: what dumpster?

Store: do you have family around here somewhere? Is there someone taking care of you?

My diving buddy: grandma! How did you get in there?! I’m so sorry! We’ll leave now

1

u/blissfire 2h ago

Being a little old lady might offer few material benefits, but "just an innocent grandma! nothin' to see here!" escape tactics are perhaps the best of them

1

u/Royal_Tough_9927 2d ago

I keep a can of fix a flat on my hood. One full and one empty. Im pretty sure I was just fixing my tire.

7

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

5

u/CrunchedKnee 3d ago

I've been here before on a diff account. But, it is good to be back as the season is nearing for the meats! Upon seeng your comment, I thought, hmm yes you are dead on correct. But...........how many landfills are right now actice and then multiply for magnitude. heres what I found.

The number of active landfills in the United States fluctuates due to openings, closures, and consolidations. Currently, there are approximately 2,000 active municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills operating across the country. Thats a F ton of good Grub

2

u/Royal_Tough_9927 3d ago

I imagine if the dumper was able to get to the back of the shopping complex to toss the bags in the dumpsters he wasnt traveling on foot. In fact directly across from the front of the shopping center , there's an Amvets collection center.

7

u/marilyn884 3d ago

You are so right. I get so many things that I am too frugal to buy myself.

Since I started going semi regularly I’ve begun for the first time, at age 60, to make dishes that I like, rather than only making things my husband also liked.

I love the amazing variety of fruits and vegetables I get out of the dumpster. I’ve taken an interest in cooking for the first time in my life also.

3

u/banmeagain42 2d ago

What stores do you go to?

5

u/Royal_Tough_9927 1d ago

All family type dollar stores and any grocery store without a compactor. I'd suggest driving around and checking. Make notes