Over the years I have had to take our family garbage to a county waste transfer facility. Rather mundane task that is more pleasurable in the winter when the temps are lower! There are occasions that I bring back the other mans stuff! For example a while back I found a very nice 64 quart cooler that has served me well over the years. One time somebody did a home demo and disposed of a 100' feet or so of copper pipe. Today somebody dropped off a pile of nice lumber. 2x4, 2x6 and a whole bunch of wavy edge cedar siding. The cedar siding makes an excellent kindling wood for starting the daily fire. I know that a lot of folks have curbside garbage pickup or their particular landfill has strong rules against picking out items and salvaging them but what have been some of your memorable finds? I live in a very popular tourist area with a lot of cottages. Sometimes when the owners pass on the next of kin is left to de-clutter the residence before sale. Being from out of town or out of state and limited for time most items end up at our landfill. "One mans junk can end up one mans treasure" so what say you?

Chris

We used to call the “Dump Rootin’ lol

Go to any collage dorm at the end of the year and you should see all the stuff for the taking.

Today something could look brand new and kill your whole family when you take it back home to use!

I'll. Keep stuff off my routes only because I pretty much see where it comes from. I keep all metals I find only to scrap. Won't keep anything for reuse in house unless I know exactly who's it was and what it was used for. Nothing!

Use to be all you had to worry about was bed bugs and industrial chemicals.



Now days with the drug epidemic we have. You could literally pick something up and OD on a drug you never used!

Over 30 years again I pick up a spool of 3/8" cable of about 150' long. I put hooks on both ends & used it when I was in a 4X4 club for pulling anybody out of some nasty holes that they thought they could make.

Not uncommon to find mowers, tillers, snowblower and such that have been scrapped cause they no longer work. Picked up a few over the years. Most just need a new plug or fuel line. One was just out of gas! My best one was a new Craftsman rider that was missing the hood. Guy told me they had jus bought it and was hauling it home when the hood flew off. They never took it home but took it to the landfill where I picked it up. Didn't look the prettiest but it worked good for the next 10 years or so. We have a standing joke between a few of us. One will call another and say "I'm going to the dump, need anything?"

No Dump picking in my town dump. 30 years ago yes....not now.

Always keep an eye out at the dump or just driving down the street on garbage day. Never know what you'll find!

our landfills are pretty controlled now. Use to go in with a load and come how with a load years ago.

I always thought if a guy takes more them he drops off they should pay you the way they charge you~ LOL

Years ago we use to shoot rats at the dump. Had a ball!

My best dump find was: two dozen bridger 330s, 18 220 dukes, 12 belisle 160s, 35 nbr two northwoods coils, 36 nbr 3 northwoods coils plus 5 Newhouse nbr ones and two nbr 0 Newhouse traps like new..... also two ammo boxes with new trap parts, 12 JC Conner shock springs.....

Youguys take dumpster diving to a whole new higher level,lol

Pickers paradise.

About 45 or so years ago someone had thrown out an old recliner. I cut the back open with my pocket knife and found a switchblade knife and a silver half dollar in the back of the chair.

Jerry found a ruger .357 magnum revolver in the middle of the road once. During the cycle rally at Sturgis.

We found a roll of copper once that brought 105.00 at the recyclers. Jerry was gonna leave it lay.

Dad brought home a long wooden Toboggan when I was a kid....started looking myself after that...Good times Pickin'!!!

Lawyers ruined dump picking, but I can't drive down a country road without stopping at all the "informal" dumps. Some from 50/75 yrs ago or more have a real treasure trove of glass bottles.

One of my most memorable and useful dump finds happened when I was about 10. Was picking around on a pile and right on top, in a box, was a brand new Converse camo rain parka. Wore that thing for years until it fell apart.

I've always been happiest when I am down in the dumps.

Moosetrot