Resources for Divers

There are also two newsgroups you can check out: alt.dumpster and misc.consumers.frugal-living.

And for a Web-based resource that explains, in almost reverent tones, the reasons for and methods of dumpster diving, check out Marduk's Guide to Garbage Digging. You'll find links and discussion boards there as well.

Shredlink offers tales from the other side: news reports of security breaches caused by dumpster divers. They seem to have a vested interest in the topic: Shredlink promotes document shredders (or "confidential materials destruction" as they call it). For an even more apocalyptic analysis of this danger, check out B-4-U-Buy, a Houston-based online buyers guide.

How's this for a great scam: get paid to dumpster dive! A team of dumpster divers was hired -- and paid -- to dig through the trash at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The project was intended to show how much reusable material ended up in the dump. They found some really interesting stuff, such as cardboard! Wow...fascinating.

Grand Rapids, Michigan's Butterworth Hospital put together a similar study, and came up with some interesting discoveries, such as the fact that bedpans can be washed and reused. I'd hate to be the person who had to dig through that garbage.

- Joe Nickell [7/4/97]

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