Garbage Picking Earn Extra Money

Who would guess that garbage picking could be profitable??? Well, it can be! It’s a good way to acquire for free, or occasionally at nominal cost, things like furniture, tools and a great variety of items you ordinarily wouldn’t afford. (Either way is cheaper than buying something new.) Garbage picking can save you some money. It can help you make some extra money. It can be a frugal practice.

The Search

Really, it’s not so much a search as a happenstance. Many times when I’ve been driving home from work or been out and about, I’ll see something that catches my eye. It will be sitting on the curb, waiting for the garbage man to haul it away. I’ll stop to check it out. If I’m interested, I make a point to ask the owner of the property if I may have it. Once in a while, someone will see my inquiry as an opportunity to make a little extra cash of his own. (Gotta admire initiative!) When that happens I have to decide if the item is worth it; usually, they’re just glad to have it gone.

I’ve retrieved lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, furniture, books, and other treasures. I clean the things up, maybe do some simple repairs. Then, I can put them in a garage sale or peddle something to someone who could use it. Sometimes, I donate things to charity (get receipts).

I have an acquaintance from work that collects aluminum cans to sell. In fact, he doesn’t limit himself to only aluminum cans. He does a lot of trash picking. He always has a load of cans, TVs, and other stuff.  Frequently he sells the majority of his finds to a professional recycling company. (Think people who take things apart and resell the components.) For my coworker, it’s a side gig he uses to supplement his income.

Oh…by the way, when it comes to dumpster diving and trash picking…there may be some nuance, but, basically, those are just other terms for garbage picking. Do you think someone willing to go through a dumpster for resale items is more dedicated to the search than one who picks through stuff stacked by the street? Are you willing to climb in a dumpster? I know some people whose finds have yielded a nice sum of money.

Make money trash picking

What Curbside Goodies To Take

Take only stuff you’re given permission to take. Make it a point to ask.

Now, when it comes to specifics…I’m one of those people who tends to think there’s value in almost everything.  When I’m garbage picking, I always have to consciously keep in mind that I should only take items I’ll be likely to refurbish and get back in use right away. Whether I plan to keep something for myself, or sell, or donate it, I make it a point to move things along. It wouldn’t  be frugal to have my place cluttered with junk.

What To Not Take

This dovetails with the above section: If you have no real use for something, don’t take it.

Also (and this is important), obey the local laws with regard to taking “trash.” That’s why I always ask permission to take something, and if I can’t get permission (for whatever reason, including no one being home), I pass on taking it—even if I considered it to be a “real steal.” Otherwise, your garbage picking could really be considered stealing. This is especially true with consideration to trash/garbage/refuse containers. If those are near the house, it’s best to assume what is in them is private property and illegal to search. As for containers sitting on the curb…local law applies.

Places To Find Good “Junk”

You have your favorite stores, places you prefer to shop over others. Your reason may the prices are better, the store layout is more convenient, or maybe it’s close to home. (Many of us don’t even know why we like one place over another; sometimes it’s a gut feeling rather than a thought process.) Well, just as you have those, garbage pickers have places they frequent.

Neighborhoods

Almost every town of any size has neighborhoods known for good picking. I frequent some neighborhoods with a reputation for having good “junk.” Sure, there can be a bunch of stuff that really is nothing but trash, but part of the job is determining what’s usable and salable. Take those things and leave the detritus.

Some garbage pickers drive regular routes, but you can be sure they’re also scanning the curbsides wherever they go.

It almost goes without saying that just as there are neighborhoods where the picking is known to be good; there are others where it’s habitually crummy. I’ve learned from experience that there are areas I don’t need to waste time exploring for reusable goodies. I’ve been through them often enough in the past to know I’ll find nothing but trashy-worn-out-no-use-left-in-them-items. (Effective use of time is a frugal attribute.)

Let’s face it, I’m doing this to earn money trash picking.  I don’t want to waste time picking through unusable items i can’t quickly repair and resell.

Apartment, Homes And Business Remodeling Jobs

An apartment, home, or office that’s being remodeled can be a source of all kinds of really usable items. It can be a fortunate scenario for both you and the remodeling people. Often, there are large containers on the premises filled with the old stuff that will be hauled away. The containers are rented ($$$) and there are restrictions as to weight and type of trash allowed in them. The people doing the remodeling may be glad to have you take away some their “rubbish,” so they have room for more. By the way…the companies that haul the stuff away??? They do dump a lot of it, but some have teams of recyclers go through it first.

Move Out Week At Colleges And Universities

It only lasts for a few days, but it happens every year, usually in May or June. College students leave their campuses in mass. And, they leave a massive amount of stuff behind as trash. Some garbage pickers feel like they’ve hit a mother lode during that time. Awesome finds include clothes, furniture, computers, cameras, and much more—a lot of it in really good condition, some of it actually new. Campus maintenance crews are often overwhelmed with the disposal project. Trash pickers can do very well.

However…

This is one of those instances when you need to know local law. In this case how the campus administrative authority views the stuff that’s been left behind. Some campuses give pickers free rein; others view it as the school’s property and collect it for resale. The latter view trash picking as theft and proceed accordingly. I’m saying you need to know if you’re allowed (if you have permission) to pick on campus.

Tools of the trade

Every profession utilizes at least a few tools to make the job go easier/faster. When it come to garbage picking, it’s probable you already own most of what you’ll need; you’re using them to do repairs and maintenance jobs around the house. What follows is a basic list of the handiest…

Hand Tools

When you buy something at the store, often, you need to assemble it at home. It makes sense that in order to safely move some of the things you find, you would need to disassemble them.  You should have at least basic hand tools: various screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, etc.

Flashlight

A flashlight is good for looking into dark corners and holes in furniture to ensure it’s rodent and bug free. You know, it’s not really necessary for the item to be free of rodents and other unwanted company, but you’ll want to know if you have critters. That way you can know how to deal with them. If you do find evidence of them, you might want to store the item in an outbuilding rather than say the garage that’s attached to your house. Or, maybe, you’ll choose to pass on taking it?

A flashlight, also, comes in very handy when looking for damage and defects.

Hand Truck

Not all of us own a hand truck, but it’s a piece of equipment that can be a great convenience. If you have one, a hand truck makes moving heavy objects much easier. Use it correctly and you won’t stress test your back.

Furniture Blankets

When you find something worth taking, naturally, you want to avoid damaging it in transit. Furniture blankets (the kind movers use) are a great aid for that, but you can use old bed blankets too.

First Aid Kit

Having a first aid kit in your vehicle makes sense regardless the activity you’re engaged in. If you’re going to pick through trash, it’s quite possible you’ll, occasionally, receive a small injury. That can be messy, and even a little blood might ruin a good find—especially, if it’s paper or fabric. Keeping basic first aid supplies (like antiseptic wipes and bandages) can save the day.

Things To Not Do

Knowing what not to do is as important as knowing the value of the finds you’re after.

Don’t Steal

I already touched on this a couple of times.

Stealing is wrong and you can get into a lot of trouble for doing it. When it comes to garbage picking, what constitutes stealing can vary from place to place. Know the laws concerning the ownership of stuff curbside in the area you’re working; be especially careful about stuff in garbage cans. You can save yourself some trouble by checking out the town ordinances and, even, HOA rules.

Don’t Make A Mess

Respect other people’s property and time.  If you make a mess clean it up. Here’s a heads up: Even when picking is condoned, if too many property owners complain about your methods, the local police will watch for you to come back and they have ways to make you feel uncomfortable and insecure. You’ll feel discouraged about returning again. And, you don’t want those feelings, especially, if the area tends to yield profitable finds.

Don’t Be Rude

There is never a good reason to be rude. If you’re challenged by a property owner, it’s better to move on. Regardless of what you think you might find, it’s not worth an encounter with the police, and there will be other places where the picking is good.

Don’t Break The Law

I have mentioned a few ways you could break the law, but I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t give you any legal advice. Think about what you’re doing before you do it.  Most laws have commonsense as a base.

Don’t Put Your Hands In Dark Holes

You don’t know what’s in there. There might be broken glass, other sharp objects. or small animals. (Personally, I worry about spiders.) Your flashlight should eliminate the need to blindly feel around. And, your first aid kit could be a real asset, if you decide to ignore this advice.

Conclusion

Treat garbage picking as a profession—a business. So, be prepared to do business. Have the proper tools, transportation, and storage facilities. Be familiar with local laws governing ownership issues. Pick with a purpose; know the kind of things you can refurbish and resale. Garbage picking can be a lucrative adventure.

Be safe and legal while you are making money trash picking.

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