It’s A Lovely Day For A Dumpster Dive

According to Wikipedia, dumpster diving is defined as “the practice of sifting through commercial or residential trash to find items that have been discarded by their owners, but which may be useful to the Dumpster diver.”

In the past, I have heard of dumpster diving as a means to catch recycling violators. Today, however, I came across a whole new purpose for dumpster diving from some wayward individuals online: finding lost soda caps with Pepsi or Coke points, among other things. The idea of rolling around in someone else’s garbage to find a tiny, plastic soda cap makes me a little nauseous. It also stirs up some intriguing thoughts about modern-day pirates and treasure hunts, minus the lush tropical island, crumpled up map and chest full of gold.

Look what one person found in a local dumpster while on the search for soda caps:

Wow. Now that is a find! I just have to wonder what is so precious here? The Humpty Dumpty souvenir? Or the lighter encased with an outline of male genitalia? Or - wait- the plain silver button that seemingly serves no purpose in life?

Hmmm….you just have to question what people really find valuable in this world (valuable enough to crawl through garbage in fact).

My curiosity continues as I continue to read about how one person considers dumpster diving for soda caps a family activity:

Spring is in the air! Hubby was able to get the bike out and we have a master cycle carrier for the baby to be pulled in the back. He went out twice today (to go dumpster diving of course) and found: 347 Coke points for his account and 30 Pepsi points for me! Lily loves going for the bike rides with her daddy, they stop and play at the park and usually go to the store along the way.

Seriously people, get a new hobby. Combing through someone else’s trash in your free time cannot be the best way to a) raise your kids or b) spend your weekends. Oh yeah, and note to “Lily” - find a new family - one that preferably doesn’t stop by dumpsters on the way to the park.

I guess it still remains true - “One person’s trash, is another person’s treasure. “