Garbage Picking for Profit

Garbage-Picking (curb crawling, dumpster diving, or trash casher) is the act of taking another person's garbage that still may have value. When someone puts garbage cans out on the curb, by law they are open to the public to take (not the cans themselves, but their contents). Dumpsters and other public waste places are as well. This article will show you how to make money from this 'business.'

This depends on what your after, if anything in particular. I personally use my friend's pickup truck so I never run out of space. I would also suggest long sleeve shirts and gloves for health reasons. Besides that all you need is a plan!

1. Furniture- couches, tables, benches, chairs, desks
   
2. Appliances- washers, dryers, microwaves, computers, etc.
   
3. Sporting goods
4. Holiday items- boxes, ornaments, lights
5. Anything of potential value, really

This is important to succeed. You need to go to a wealthy, high class neighborhood. Usually these people have enough money not to bother with selling old furniture, appliances, etc on Ebay or Craigslist. Going to a lower class town will defeat the whole purpose and offer more competition to find items. 99% of garbage pickers aren't exactly living large.

This part is also crucial and different for each person. Go out the night before or the morning of 'heavy pickup' day. This is when people curb their furniture, heavy electronics, and other large items such as wood and rugs. In my town Wednesday is 'heavy pickup' day, so Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I am out with my pickup truck.
Even holidays offer much potential. Before and after Christmas is usually a gold mine. People throw out things that aren't even broken! Ornaments, lights, boxes, the opportunities are endless.
Another time to go is around the time high school and, particularly, college ends. College dorm appliances (mini-refrigerators, desks, lamps, storage boxes) are thrown in in great shape.

• Stay away from dumpsters or dumps. It is just disgusting
• Bring towels or sheets. Don't scratch your car!
• Just take it. Don't worry about a broken part or if it works or not. Chances are the rich family was too lazy to buy the $5 replacement part. Plus the more you pick, the more potential replacement parts you can salvage. Even better, as you probably have done before, most parents, in anger and frustration, will throw out an item the kids don't use anymore. This item is probably in excellent shape!
• Leave kitchen trash bags and anything related to beds alone. Its just gross.
• Don't buy replacement parts or fix an item until you know the potential profit. Don't spend a week repairing a table that is worth nothing!