21
Dec 2009

Dumpster Dived Building Materials

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I was walking home from the post office today when I spotted a huge dumpster out in front of a house, filled to the brim with what looked like a lot of wood and cardboard.  I had the dog on a leash and our son in the stroller, so I wasn’t in much of a position to dumpster dive at that point, but this evening I went back with my car.  I rang the doorbell and asked if I could take some of the wood; the lady said it was all going to the dump anyway, so I could have what I wanted.

I ended up with five pieces of wood, all about five feet long, 12 inches wide, and about half an inch thick.  They will be perfect for the shelves I want to build in the craftroom we’re going to make in our basement (currently the basement is unfinished, so it’s a blank slate as far as what we want down there).  Not only were they free, but I prevented the wood from ending up in the landfill.  That’s about as green as a building material can get.

There are a few nails sticking out of the boards, and some of them are a bit dirty.  But I’m planning to paint the shelves the same color as the walls, and I think they’ll end up looking great.  I also snagged a four foot section of thick wooden dowel.  I don’t have an immediate use for it, but I know that they are a bit pricey in the hardware store, and I couldn’t let it end up in the landfill.

Have you ever dumpster dived?  Did you ask permission, or just go for it?  Broad daylight or in the dark?  What did you find?  I recently borrowed this book from the library, and loved every page.  If you’re into dumpster diving or just curious, it’s a great read.

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Category: just my life, the simple life
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  • http://justgoodfinancialadvice.blogspot.com/ Clayton

    I love dumpster diving for building materials. Sometimes I asked and sometimes I didn’t, but I have never heard anyone say no. Most of the time I would go by houses being built in my neighborhood when they weren’t around, but in the daylight so I could see, you don’t want nails or bugs getting you.

  • http://www.familybalancesheet.org Kristia @Family Balance Sheet

    I can’t say I have actually dived into a dumpster, but we have taken things that were set out on the curb for trash. We got 2 green outdoor adirondack chairs once that were in fine condition.

    I wouldn’t be above diving into a dumpster for the right item. It actually sounds like fun…is that weird?

  • http://ultimatemoneyblog.com/ Mrs. Money

    I wonder what that woman thought! lol. Good for you! That sounds like you got a bunch of good stuff!

  • http://radioventriloquist.blogspot.com GC

    I never have but lots of people do in my area . . . especially for scrap metal. And every time I put out books for recycling, they vanish before the truck arrives.
    I’ve seen one or two things I’ve wanted. Maybe eventually I’ll get up the courage. . .

  • BigNan

    Twenty years ago we moved to a suburb in a large metropolitan area. Our four children were aged 9, 7, 3 and 1. The older children would go for walks, or ride around the neighborhood on their bikes, and occasionally come home excited about the things being left out at the curb for trash pickup. We told them they could bring decent things home, but always to ask before taking anything. The bicycle I ride to this day came from there (had a flat tire, so someone was trashing it), and I remember two wooden dressers that we used for years that came from other people’s curbside. I think many people find it easier to leave it by the curb rather than taking it to a thrift store. Nowadays I think craigslist “free” section is passing some things around.

  • http://thefrugalist.ca Aaron

    I always love finding good dumpsters (as funny as that sounds). Last week I was helping out a a local museum cleaning out a junk room and pulled about 20 feet of really nice pine, plus some natural wood boards. Also turned out that others were just too shy to ask because as soon as they saw me taking some boards they pulled out some as well! I never thought of dumpster diving in groups before!

  • http://onpurposeliving.blogspot.com Alissa

    Very cool! AND eco-friendly. :) You must be excited about building a craft room!!

  • http://lifeinmetal.blogspot.com Zella

    I did this once in awhile when I lived in my old apartment. Mostly for furniture that I was only going to be using temporarily until my stuff came out of storage. I do have qualms about food and “soft” goods directly out of the trash.

    There was a company on the east coast that would empty a place for free, but got the right to recycle/resell what they found, so unless there’s a sign out, I generally exercise caution and ask.

  • http://myfinancialtrek.blogspot.com MK

    I haven’t dumpster dove? dived? which ever it is! in recent years. But when I was 10 and after my parents house was built, us kids would run around the neighborhood while the other houses were being built and pick materials out of the dumpsters. We made bike ramps and shelves and goodness knows what else out of that stuff. We also found a lot of nails on the ground, so the only investment was our time. And as far as our parents were concerned, they knew where we were and what we were doing, so they were content!

    I’ve been tempted in recent years, but I’m a little shy just taking something off of someone elses property. even if it is sitting out at the curb or is in a dumpster.

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