Getting stuff from "the dump"?

[LongingForLight]

I made the mistake of looking at a home decorating website, and it really sparked my interest in trying to decorate our own home again. The problem is, we have no money. $0. Nothing we can spend.

I’m always reading this article or that article where someone found something really cool at “the dump” and used a little creativity to change it into something really, really cool. I’d like to check out “the dump” and see what we can find, but I have no idea what to look up or where we would start in figuring out a way to go get stuff that people have thrown away. I have a number of ideas that involve using little bits of useful trash that should be common for art projects that would really add interest to our home, and may have time to do some of them this spring.

Any advice on figuring out how to get stuff from “the dump”?

 

[sherimarie]

You might really be looking for the dump. Many places that have trash drop off also have little sheds that people can bring things that are too good to throw away but that they dont want anymore. My sister found me the tea pot that finished my currier and ives collection there!
There was a nice articlel i just read about using missmatched plates to hang on the wall, very nice. have fun.

 

[puzzleannie]

instead of the dump try the curb (check laws in your town) or Salvation Army and Goodwill, consignment shops, and thrift shops run by charities like Junior League (the organizations with more affluent members collect a better class of discards). Garage sales or tag sales, again in more affluent neighborhoods, are a good bet, better than flea markets which are the next step up from dump in my experience, with higher prices. Community garage sales held in a school or public site are great, as are garage sales where an entire subdivision participates. the trick is to get there at the end of the day when they might be willing to give stuff away just to get rid of it.

until we retired and moved down here I never bought an entire roomful of furniture at a store, we worked almost entirely on hand-me-downs and “collectibles”. For instance, I cleaned house for a doctor’s wife, and got all his office furniture when he redecorated–sofa, chairs, end tables, lamps, accessories, shelving, even a table with 4 chairs. Some of that stuff is still in use by my kids or nieces. In our next house we kept tabs on who was moving and checked them out after their garage sales and got a lot of great leftovers they did not want to move. Not my personal taste, but “free and in good condition” makes up for taste.

another place to check if you are near a college town is dorms and student apartments at the end of each term when kids are moving out, DD furnished their first house in State College entire from dorm cast-offs, some of that stuff she still uses in their family room and kids’ rooms

make friends with apartment managers in general (this came naturally when we did cleaning as a second job or when I was laid off) and get permission to scan the dumpster area when people move out, they apartment has to pay to have furniture and appliances hauled away, and would be thrilled to have you take it, usually, as long as they give your permission to be there

you want to get the stuff before it sits in the dump getting wet, moldy and infested with vermin.

 

[Jennifer_J]

Freecycle
freecycle.com

 

[nodito]

I echo Freecycle. You can also check out craigslist.org. They have a “free” category under their “for sale” section. I just checked my city’s free craigslist postings and they have free armoires, mirrors, student desks, arm chairs, sleeper sofas, lamps, etc. With a little imagination and some elbow grease, it’s a home decorator’s dream.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

Check the “freebies” section in the newspaper. Who knows? “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Good luck!

 

[purplesunshine]

craigslist is great!!! I got my futon on craig’s list for free. It’s fairly new and was purchased for atleast 5k if not more. Three days after the warntee expired the previous owner’s kid picked it up and dropped it, cracking the leg. The family was well to do, irritated and just wanted rid of it. Right now I have it screwed to a cheap block but my dad’s going to fix it.

If you want something keep an eye on the section for what you want. Sometimes someone will negotiate down to very little or nothing.

I’d be VERY careful with anything plushy or with fabric at the dump. In my region bed bugs are always a concern.

 

[kevinsgirl]

In my neighborhood we have two days for trash pickup and the second day you put out the stuff that doesn’t fit in the trashcan (limbs, furniture, etc.). You’d be surprised at the things people will throw away simply because they don’t want to go the trouble of calling goodwill. I’ve picked up several decent pieces of furniture this way–one was an antique sideboard that I decided against renovating and ended up selling at my own garage sale for $40.

I draw the line at digging in people’s trashcans–that’s personal garbage. But if I see a decent piece of furniture on the side of the road I’ll pull over and look at it…

ETA: If you really can’t spend anything at all, another option is going to garage sales at the very end of the sales and asking what the lowest price they’ll take is. I mark everything down to free right before the end of mine because I hate having to pack everything up and make multiple trips to donate it.

 

[1ke]

Don’t count on getting things at an actual landfill. Most have a “no scavenger” policy. You are not allowed to walk around in there for safety and health reasons.

Perhaps some towns have more of a local drop off for unwanted large items like furniture. I’ve seen things out on the curb get snatched before the garbage man ever comes.

Check craigs list, freecycle, and Goodwill, St. Vincent’s, and local junk shops.

 

[dulcissima]

It’s also fairly expensive to go to the dump, about $20 to go in. Freecycle, craigslist, garage sales, and thrift stores are all far better sources.

Whenever I have gone to the dump, there is very little that is there and intact. The way that lanfills are managed these days, what gets dumped quickly gets bulldozed and turned over. There is very little available at the surface to even scavenge. I have never see anything remotely desirable there.

 

[chevalier]

A couple of days ago, I witnessed someone finding a whole unopened can of quality colourless laqueur. Another find by the same person was completely prepared canvas or something of the kind (he’s an artist). He also has a whole balcony of all kinds of flowers from the same source (he nurses them back to health and they look pretty for him out of gratitude ).