I went dumpster diving today...

Just what the title says. I went dumpster diving today. Why? Well today I was at p.e, it's the last week so the teacher was cleaning out the equipment room. He ask me and my friend if we could take something out to the dumpster. So we did. When we threw some metal poles in the dumpster we notice tennis rackets. A lot! About 12. 3 of them was in plastic wrapping! Brand new. Some brand new tennis balls in a container, then on the other side we have containers of birdies with more rackets. We got some and we went back. Then our teacher said to take them back how it's illegal! How is it illegal! They threw it out! How is it illegal. Then they threw out new hockey sticks. It was suppose to be for an elementary school. Not for high school so it's garbage! How can they do that? At least donate them! If anyone remember my last topic about my school, you'll know that my school is poor. The school is poor and they're throwing away new stuff! What do you guys think abou this?

If they were actually throwing away the equipment, that's obviously a waste. For really minor things, practically good stuff can get thrown in the trash; which is why dumpster diving exists.

Dumpster diving has always been an interesting concept to me. "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and stuff, so I have no qualms against the practice, especially if it's done by people who can't afford all that much in the first place. Though a NeoGAF thread on the topic had taught me that there was such a thing as "dumpster diving culture", which that I have a few problems with.

If the trash is on public property then it is totally legal.

Unless otherwise stated in a local law.

That is pretty stupid of them.

just take the stuff, they wont call the cops (i really hope that). but yah, that happened to me too, when i was in middle school, they got new backboards for the basketball hoops, so i asked if i could take one, and they told me they couldnt give me one, even if i came after school. these are what i call stupid laws

If the dumpster is still on school property, the garbage within is school property and taking it is in fact illegal.  That said, that's also pretty damn wasteful.

Just what the the title is. I went dumpster diving today. Why? Well today I was at p.e, it's the last week so the teacher was cleaning out the equipment room. He ask me and my friend if we could take something out to the dumpster. So we did. When we threw some metal poles in the dumpster we notice tennis rackets. A lot! About 12. 3 of them was in plastic wrapping! Brand new. Some brand new tennis balls in a container, then on the other side we have containers of birdies with more rackets. We got some and we went back. Then our teacher said to take them back how it's illegal! How is it illegal! They threw it out! How is it illegal. Then they threw out new hockey sticks. It was suppose to be for an elementary school. Not for high school so it's garbage! How can they do that? At least donate them! If anyone remember my last topic about my school, you'll know that my school is poor. The school is poor and they're throwing away new stuff! What do you guys think abou this?

When people say dumpster dive, that what I have in mind.

Man, I was hoping for a story about a dead body.

I would imagine they have a yearly budget for equipment that they needed to spend before the next budget comes in. Same thing happens at the Fire Station my dad works at. They blow whatever is left of the budget on new Flashlights, fans, misc equipment so that its used up and not lost. They cant give away the old stuff because its actually owned by the State/Town. Its all red tape BS.

Just take it. No one is going to arrest you for taking stuff out of a school dumpster. If it was a hospital dumpster then it might be a different story.

One man's trash is another man's wizard hat.

If need be just dumpster dive at night so it's less likely you'll be noticed. Seriously if they're gonna toss out perfectly new stuff that soome one would want it's only fair to take it.

While I dont what you could with 12 new rackets and a bunch more hockey sticks and such. If it realy mattered and your school security is not 1984 with CCTV cameras everywhere like my high school was. Then I would suggest nabbing one of each.

Granted I would love to take it all and try and sell it somehow. Trying to stealth fully take all that is a little difficult. If anything take one at a time and Shaw shank redemption it. Until GARBAGE DAY! Also even if you are 100% guaranteed to take it all with no chance of being caught. Dont leave a good amount so that it dosnt seem obvious that someone took them and more so your P.E teacher would not instantly go "I know who took these!" out of some personal quest to hunt you down.

However if its all too risky dont do it. Still goddamned annoying.

If your school district doesn't have much money but they're wasting it on shit like this, you need to bring this up at a board meeting. Fiscal irresponsibility is a huge problem with schools, and if they're throwing things away instead of giving them to people that could use them then the community needs to know.

And no, it's not illegal. They threw it out. You can take it and sell it if you want to.

I was able to get the tennis balls.

I'm not sure where you live, but it's probably not illegal.

@FluxWaveZ said:

If they were actually throwing away the equipment, that's obviously a waste. For really minor things, practically good stuff can get thrown in the trash; which is why dumpster diving exists.

Dumpster diving has always been an interesting concept to me. "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and stuff, so I have no qualms against the practice, especially if it's done by people who can't afford all that much in the first place. Though a NeoGAF thread on the topic had taught me that there was such a thing as "dumpster diving culture", which that I have a few problems with.

Adam Savage was talking about dumpster diving culture on his tested podcast today. He was saying that most municipalities have certain days each year that they let you put all your garbage in the street and they'll take it, including the huge shit like furniture. You can mine during those days to get lots of stuff to build things with. Internet people map out where and when different municipalities schedule these special garbage days.

@SexualBubblegumX said:

If need be just dumpster dive at night so it's less likely you'll be noticed. Seriously if they're gonna toss out perfectly new stuff that soome one would want it's only fair to take it.

Police tend to not like when you creep around behind buildings (where most dumpsters are located) at night. Weekends and not during business hours seems like a better time to do it.

@The_Laughing_Man: I would assume this poor school is a public school so the property is government owned and therefore is considered crown lands. So not illegal.

@mosespippy: Good point, depending where you live doing it at night might not be the best time to go dumpster diving. Where I live 2-3 am would be perfect, but it varies from place to place.

In 2005 I would go through trash cans with a friend at school to find Mountain Dew caps. At the time they were running that "Win an Xbox 360" promotion. I didn't win one but I did win a CD carrying case with the Mountain Dew and 360 logo on it. That thing is useless now.

you should come back during the night. the custodians don't care about people being there.

i suggest you go to your local college and go dumpster diving there. someone i know went dumper diving at yale before. he said he got like 4 microwaves and sold them to friends. his done it at other places also. there are people that come to my work and take the cans and bottles that the store doesn't take from the recycling machines from the garbage. i assuming that they also go to other places and make some money as it's only 5 cents each can/ bottle.

"Legal" and "illegal" aren't always synonymous with "right" and "wrong" (see: slavery laws). Go back and take that shit tonight :O)

I used to dumpster dive all the time at my old apartment. I got my computer desk, vacuum cleaner, and CRT television I use for my old game systems from the dumpster!

If I were to go dumpster diving (and I'm not) and I find something quite valuable, then that shit's mine. Oughta be national law: If you throw shit away and someone finds it, it's theirs unless they can use it to steal your identity.

If the shit was brand new you should have just called the teacher a prick and taken the stuff anyway. If he told you to stop you respond "blow me!"

Your almost out to summer break anyway, what are they going to do, suspend you?

@DarthOrange: They could not allow the OP to sit for an exam or get seat time, forcing them into a summer school situation or have a failing grade for a year. At least the district I work in wouldn't want to do something like that, but depending on the student and faculty handbook in that particular case, they could do a whole lot.

That said, I'm more concerned with tossing anything of value. Call me cheap, call me a hippie, but there isn't enough you can do to convince me these old yet still common practices are a good idea. More so in tough economic times when schools and teachers are getting slammed with more cutbacks and general flack.

@SexyToad said:

A lot! About 12. 3 of them was in plastic wrapping!

At first I thought you were saying that twelve and three tenths of them were in plastic wrapping. I was confused. "How oddly specific!"

@Akyho said:

GARBAGE DAY!

You definitely should take all of them and sell them online or something

Yea, I ran into this in college where the IT department was throwing away some old PC stuff. They said it would be illegal for me to take it, but that they *wink wink* didn't see or hear anything about me stealing. Ended up getting like two or three 4-to-1 VGA and DVI switchboxes that work like new.

Hmm, i was hoping you'd find a baby.

DUDES! I HAVE THE SOLUTION!!!

Craigslist it!!

See who takes the bite!!!

Hopefully no one gets hurt.........

I would have just taken the rackets and hid them in your locker or something, once you throw something out its not yours.

I would have just taken the rackets and hid them in your locker or something, once you throw something out its not yours.

I think The Wire season 4, that's what I think.

Illegal? Illegal my ass. Your teacher was after the tennis rackets and balls. She was trying to fool you.

I agree with what wireless internet said. Teachers always going for the balls

I was expecting you to to say you found a shitload of retro games or something.

It's called Freeganism (I think). I knew a bunch of folk in uni who would regularly raid supermarket dumpsters after hours. The food wasn't rotten either, just health and safety regs state that - even though the food being thrown out is perfectly edible for a day or so more - they can't keep it, which sort of sucks (well, except for the people snatching up the stuff in dumpsters). They were eating things like salmon for breakfast occasionally.

@dudeglove said:

It's called Freeganism (I think). I knew a bunch of folk in uni who would regularly raid supermarket dumpsters after hours. The food wasn't rotten either, just health and safety regs state that - even though the food being thrown out is perfectly edible for a day or so more - they can't keep it, which sort of sucks (well, except for the people snatching up the stuff in dumpsters). They were eating things like salmon for breakfast occasionally.

Errrrrr......getting food out of dumpsters? That seems a bit iffy, but i guess if they weren't filled with other crap, and if they were properly sealed...

I was going to ask what her name was, but I think you're too young to get it

@Shirogane said:

@dudeglove said:

It's called Freeganism (I think). I knew a bunch of folk in uni who would regularly raid supermarket dumpsters after hours. The food wasn't rotten either, just health and safety regs state that - even though the food being thrown out is perfectly edible for a day or so more - they can't keep it, which sort of sucks (well, except for the people snatching up the stuff in dumpsters). They were eating things like salmon for breakfast occasionally.

Errrrrr......getting food out of dumpsters? That seems a bit iffy, but i guess if they weren't filled with other crap, and if they were properly sealed...

Oh it wasn't slabs of raw meat they were digging out, it was the usual perishable meat & dairy from the cooler section in their original packaging. Students are a desperate/stupid bunch.

Somewhere there is a reality show about people who make a living doing this. Its really stupid if this is illegal. Wasteful.

Dumpster diving is so unsexy.

...unless you find a pile of alley nuts. Those are good I hear.