12 replies to this topic

[Blasphemy]

Well I know I'm knew at NerfHaven, however I would like to make a suggestion for some members who would like to find Nerf resources for cheap. Now please don't flame me if someone else posted a topic about this because I already searched. In my state, and I'm pretty sure every other state in the United States, and in Canada, once you place your trash on the curb you declare the end of your ownership of it, any other citizen can come and take it. My city happens to have bulk trash pickup about three times every year and my mom and I capitalize. Yesterday, just by taking 30 minutes out of my day on my bike I found a strap, a Tech Target version Scout, about 2 1/2' of 3/4" diameter SCH40 PVC, two plastic triggers, and several pool noodles which I intend to turn into Titan missiles.

The point is, if your city has a bulk trash pickup look around a little, you never know what you'll find. Plenty of resources are lurking out there for you to find at bulk trash pickup time, and other than taking a little time to survey to see what people are throwing out, it's completely free.

Below are some pointers:

-If you know a house where they have young children (ex. 4-10 years old) who are growing out of their toys, check it out there might be a Nerf gun or other foam-shooting delights among the pile, or even a water gun you could convert.

-If you are looking for barreling resources check a house that recently had a major renovation, and it would be even more preferable if you know for certain that they had a plumbing renovation.

-If you want scrap plastic or other scrap materials check the piles of local machine shops or workshops.

-Use a bicycle or car to cover more ground, don't spend too much time checking one pile, if it doesn't look promising at first just keep going.

-Usually you'll find large piles at places where the owners of the houses are moving soon, always be sure to check those house.

-Go trash-picking with a friend or friends to increase productivity, your friend(s) might sight something you could use that you hadn't even thought of.

-If you know others that go trash-picking tell them to keep an eye out for anything you are looking for, they might just find something.

And that's all folks have a good time sifting through other's trash. Remember that old saying: "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

[six-five-two]

Most families will probably just give the guns to Value Village or something.

[The Trouble]

I have to say, be safe when "dumpster diving". All sorts of nasty, sharp, and potentially very dangerous things can be found in garbage.

As long as you're safe, this is a darn good idea. Aside from being a rather cheap way to get useful items, it's another good way to recycle. I remember a time in northern California where you could find full working computers in dumpsters (monitor, keyboard, the whole shebang).

I don't have any tips to add to Blaspheymy's, but I can add to the list of freebees obtained from trash: I've gotten a Bow'n'Arrow, a Manta Ray, and a Secret Shot II all from what was considered garbage.

[Kid Flash]

the best 2 things i have found trash picking were a remote control helicopter that i fixed. it would have cost about 300 dollars. it had a pricetag ont he box when i found it. im just including the tax. it works like a charm now. i intend to put a remote fired hornet on it. might be to heavy for it though. the next thing i found was a... hornet! it wasnt perfect but it worked.

[Forsaken angel24]

As much as I disapprove of this. I must say I had done it myself with Pepsi points? Is anyone else here old enough to remember Pepsi points? A friend of mine and I scavenged every recycling box in our area. I ended up getting a towel and my friend ended up getting dog tags. My other close friends father owns a catering company. He collected so many points, He got all three of his sons Pepsi bikes.

[SHADOW HUNTER ALPHA]

I think being caught dumpster diving is some sort of federal offense. Even though it's garbage, it's still the property of the person or business that throws it out until the garbage trucks come and pick it up. I strongly suggest getting permission before doing this, but it is still a great way to find cool and random objects.

[Richomundo]

I think being caught dumpster diving is some sort of federal offense. Even though it's garbage, it's still the property of the person or business that throws it out until the garbage trucks come and pick it up. I strongly suggest getting permission before doing this, but it is still a great way to find cool and random objects.

wrong. the us supreme court ruled that Dumpster diving is legal unless specifically prohibited by law.

See court case California V. Greenwood regarding dumpster privacy and evidence that is admissable in court found in dumpsters.

Once anything hits the dumpster in the state of california, it's fair game. US supreme court ruled that 4th amendment (unlawful search and seizure) does not apply to garbage or discarded items (eg items next to a dumpster that a reasonable person would believe is trash, such as a couch or car tire etc) and that those items discarded are in the public domain.

When I worked retail back in the day, we would dumpster dive all the time for cool crap the store threw away, but it had to hit the trashcan first. As long as whatever broken merchandise we were throwing out went into the dumpster, even in then out, we were allowed to keep it.

Trespassing is illegal, but dumpster diving is not in the state of california.

Check your own states.

[One Man Clan]

Is anyone else here old enough to remember Pepsi points?

Hell yea man. I STILL have a CD case from Pepsi Points I scavenged. Also did it at McDonalds when I saw people throw away unused Monopoly pieces on their fries or drinks (usually old people who didn't know they were there).

[Carbon]

Dumpster diving rocks. The URL for any pic I post is dumpster.gotdns.com...which is because the first webserver I set up was from an old HP I pulled from the garbage. That computer is gone, but the name lives on.

Exams week in any college town is like a huge free rummage sale, with people pitching stuff that they don't want to move. Madison was always great for the huge drifts of stuff you could find. I've usually found that the good stuff is sitting next to the dumpster, as opposed to inside of it. Easier that way.

Pepsi points...I never scavenged those, but I got a whole lot of free songs off of iTunes. Anyway, Pepsi Points always make me think of the guy who tried to get the Harrier Jump Jet.

[Blasphemy]

Actually, to anyone who thought I was talking about dumpster-diving, I wasn't. I was talking about trash picking which is completely different. Some of you may not have a bulk trash pickup so you may not know what I'm talking about. It's when people who put out heavier trash than they typically do, (ex. stuff like tables, chairs, various furniture, toys, broken electronics, etc.). It only happens a couple times a year and city trash workers come with a special heavier compactor for the sole purpose of doing it.

[nerfsharpie6]

I know what your talking about. I do it once a week around my town. Me and my mom find some cool shit like chairs. No nerf guns yet. Pretty much all the kids in my town have grown up and moved out. I'm the only one (beside my friend) and one other family. And you can get some nice lengths of cpvc or pvc from large scale construction sites. But teh one near me took all the scraps. And you know where else you can find good nerf guns? Thrift stores. If you find one their cheap and generally in good condition.

[taita cakes]

Also did it at McDonalds when I saw people throw away unused Monopoly pieces on their fries or drinks (usually old people who didn't know they were there).

Oh man, the first wave of Monopoly was so much fun. Well, before they made all the new rules. Like you could go up and ask for your free cup of water, and get it in a monopoly cup.

Anyway, I'd recommend Op Shops or "Value Village" or whatever you call your local charity organisation. The pensioners who run it will always mark it down to a dollar no matter what gun it is.

[CD-R]

Oh man, I've gotten so many good dumpster diving finds, I don't even know where to start.
Once our school district was replacing all of their computers, so we asked our counselors if we could take some of it, and they said yes. We all walked away with arm fulls of computer junk. We had to call my friend's mom to help us drive the stuff away (I believe one of my friends had something like five to ten computers).
The real trick, is to keep your eyes open. Also, try going to your local recycling center a few days after christmas; my brother and I did that once, and the guys there let us take a perfectly good TV for free. They even let us test it with an outlet on one of their garbage trucks.