I dumpster dove...and it wassss fun :)

[ashmo0424]

OMG we have the recycle bins all over around here and at all the schools and daycares.... Im SOOO going to ask permission! lol. I dont mind kicking off my heels and diving in. lol. (figure of speech)

[rachellepeters]

Originally Posted by n2save Last week i have e mailed our " recycling " company in Az - and asked them for permission to come by their " main location " where all the paper-dumpsters get emptied. well he replied back - basically saying " no way - will you get in that center.. we can't allow that " and.. BTW - if you decide to go to the " dumpsters " - just be warned that you can get a citation for that- and some " coupon hunters " already have gotten one- just be careful he said the " dumpsters " are belonging to who ever is the host of that location- so if you want to go the " safe road " and not get a citation- to first contact who ever is holding that dumpster- was it a church or a school, just go in and ask for p ermission first .. So i decided to first ask a few locations before i started - i really don't want to get in trouble, and of course i always dump 5x more paper in the dumpster than what i get out..i'm not making them " short " on any money for the paper- but .. it's better to ask I thought just to let you guys know .. and i'm really wondering " why people go when it's dark " .. if you think you are not doing anything wrong ? I mean you will get more " police or whatever attention in the dark than in the bright day light ? Or ? And how in the world do you guys get the permission to go into that recycling center ??? I guess i'm just jealous .. i mean .. i would go for a picnic in there :))

I don't go when it's dark, wouldn't be able to see anything! :) ....I go in the daylight, preferably during slower traffic times, not avoiding "cops" but avoiding maybe people I KNOW seeing me lol

I don't go to an actual recycle center, just the big recycle dumpsters in store parking lots

And I do as some others do. I gather up a ton of papers, and as I throw a handful in...I am moving things around with my other hand and quickly digging. I try not to be obvious..not to avoid trouble..but the awkwardness of someone wondering why I am digging through papers :) And I only do this when the dumpster is full enough to be at chest level. No point if I can't reach. So if the dumpster is not almost full..I hold off on taking my papers and check the next day.

Lately I've been getting 3-5 P&G inserts with Pampers q's, and loving it. I don't feel it's doing anything wrong...dumping off 5 lbs of papers and picking up 4-10 inserts...plus I'll recycle the inserts once they expire.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Laws vary greatly by region, always good to find out what they are and take note of any signs posted on or near dumpsters.

I don't dive in the dark or really care who sees me. It's not something I am embarrassed by at all....

And I have been asked by a police officer what I was doing and when I told him he held the bin door open for me because I was preggo with my twins and the wind kept blowing the lid on my head. LOL

If the recycling bin is located on private property you should ask the owner. The bins I dive at are city provided recycling drop off bins located in parking lots around town. There are no signs posted and I have asked if it is OK to dive and was given the green light.

It's always worth repeating that you need to make sure it is not illegal and ask the proper folks if it is OK. If you cannot find out by making some calls or talking to whomever owns the bins or the property the bins are on then you should proceed with caution. If caught you more than likely will just be asked to leave however you could be given a citation.

Our bins are divided bins. One for paper, one for alluminum, one for glass, one for cardboard and one for "blue bag" (which is everything else recyclable like plastic/tin cans/ scrap metal etc. I of course dive in the paper bin for newspapers but sometimes when I need a box to ship something I look in the cardboard bin. Lots of good boxes in there. We found lots when we were moving!

[gctattoo]

Like Heidi, our recycling bins are just positioned at various locations around town for citizens to take all of their recycling to. There are no signs posted about not diving so I do.

I don't really care who sees me. Some people ask if I've lost something and I just tell them I'm looking for coupons. There are a few people who've then offered me whatever inserts they have in their recycling. No one has said anything negative about it.

[Sizzler]

My grandma took me dumpster diving for my first time!

[mrsjschultz]

Just got home from a fav bin of my own and scored 50+ 7/11 papers =D Will probably go back out after DH gets home! LOL.

[momto8kiddos]

I am fortunate enough to know the exact newspaper only dumpsters where the newspaper guys dispose of the unsold copies of the paper. So we are always able to get 60+ copies in about 15 minutes. I'm so thankful I have a willing 16yos who will actually get in the dumpster for me. It helps that he makes money selling the ones our family won't use. So it's a win-win for us!