Dumpster diving.

[peonuser]

I wonder how many people get computer equipment or other electronics from peoples discards. Without going into dumpsters, I know I have been lucky enough to get quite a bit of stuff. I can not wait for after Christmas. Maybe that is why in some parts of Italy Christmas is celebrated in January?

[rokytnji]

Living in a Hispanic Territory of America, The only thing you may find in Dumpsters here is Kitty Litter. I set out 2 old Metal thermoses out on my curb yesterday, cuz the wife bought me a new one for Christmas. They were gone in less than 5 minutes. Put out a busted wash machine and a old central air A/C unit and put a Gratis sign on em and they were gone in about a hour. I don't think even roadkill goes to waste in my area. So no chance of picking up a busted computer.

[JosipBroz]

Well, it's even worse here in Slovenia. Our stuff never even makes it to the dumpster. Let me explain: every 3 months or so the garbage company announces they would be collecting larger pieces of trash (fridges, tyres, beds, cupboards...) on a certain date in a certain area. Well, a couple of days BEFORE that there's a bunch of people with trucks/pickups/vans driving from house to house, ringing at our doors and asking us whether we have any such piece so they can take it before the garbage collectors come. The situation gets worse as the announced date approaches: the evening before, when there's already a lot of stuff piled up waiting for the garbage collectors to come, you may see creepy dark shadows with shiny eyes rummaging through the piles like a bunch of hyenas. All this in Slovenia, the prosperous country that boasts the fastest growing economy in all Europe! It makes me think prosperity must have many faces.
On the other hand, I've yet to hear of a single statal or public institution in Slovenia -- be it a school, a city council, the IRS, the government, the police, or a kindergarten -- that uses free software. They all merrily pay through our noses for their shiny Vista systems.

[peonuser]

I put some stuff that I did not need anymore by a dumpster near a grocery store and it was gone in no time. I wish I still had my truck. I can only get things that will fit in a sedan. I have enough toys, so I am in no big hurry to get anything new(old).

[elija]

Knowing where I live as well as I do, I'm afraid I take advantage sometimes.

I had an old fridge to get rid of, it was broken and going to cost me money to get it taken away. So I put it outside my house with a sign saying" free - suitable for spare parts" on it. It was still there three days later.

I changed the sign to say "For sale £35 or near offer. Enquire within" and it disappeared in less than two hours

Fridge gone at no cost. Result!

[peonuser]

Truth is stranger than fiction. Psychology works. Good for you.

[Dapper Dan]

I changed the sign to say "For sale £35 or near offer. Enquire within" and it disappeared in less than two hours. Fridge gone at no cost. Result!

Reminds me of what cat lover once told me. If you wind up with a litter of kittens, no one will want them if you try to give them away. However, if you sell them for a small fee... say $5.00 each, folks will want them and you'll get them gone.

[oz]

I'm always on the lookout for the very collectible IBM Model M Keyboard. Office workers trash them all the time not realizing that some of them can bring between $20 and $125, depending on the part number, age, and condition. I have four real beauties (2 from 1987, and 2 from 1989) in my arsenal already.

[questio verum]

The amount of time discarded electronics go unscavenged around here depends a lot on the neighbourhood. In some neighbourhoods, they might actually make it into the hopper of the trash truck. In others, the divers don't even wait for the back door of the office/store/school/etc to close before they descend. I work in engineering support for a large retail concern, and at some of our sites the divers will actually stand in attendance and dump the trash for you when bring it out.

Btw... I've found Aqualung is alive and well. In fact, I'm sure of it. I saw him running through the dumpster alcove at the mall other day.

qv

[rokytnji]

Btw... I've found Aqualung is alive and well.

Man, he was old sitting on that parkbench back in the 70's. He must be over 100 years old now. What a guy.