Okay, so we're not hardcore dumpster divers, and most of the stuff we have gotten out of the dumpsters have been gotten by leaning over the side and picking things up (not climbing into them, at least I don't think so).
Hall of Fame from the dumpster:
-My all-time favorite: My Prada backpack and briefcase. Real Prada, real nice. Perfect condition. No scuffs, marks, stains, or anything. Just dust b/c I think they hadn't ever used them. Thrown away seconds before by a young Asian couple moving out of their apartment near us.
-Second favorite: a nice compact GPX (I think) stereo. Again, perfect condition, thrown away by college students.
-Third favorite: Text books (again, college students, gotta love 'em). Took the books to a great used bookstore, got about $100 bucks for the lot.
My husband and I have also gathered a bookcase (which I love b/c it matches other furniture perfectly), but that was from beside the dumpster, so I'm not sure it counts.
When I was young, my dad would dumpster dive alot and brought home many nice things. I remember furniture, etc. Also, the first flowers I ever got (as weird as this is) were from my best friend when we were probably 6 or 7 and he had found them in the dumpster. Huge bouquet, very beautiful, neighborhood old couple thought it was adorable and took pictures of us.
Anyway, point is that for me, I've never been uncomfortable with dumpster diving as long as A) it's not gross in the dumpster and B) the thing gotten is clean. To each his own, I guess.
