Melanie Diaz, a 22-year-old adventurer from Texas, has discovered an unconventional yet rewarding hobby—dumpster diving. Inspired by social media videos and success stories of others salvaging treasures from commercial and residential dumpsters, Diaz embarked on her diving journey in 2023. Spending nearly 4-5 hours each day, she sifts through dumpsters of popular retail chains like TJ Maxx, Homesense, and HomeGoods, uncovering a wealth of items that should never have been discarded.
“Since I started dumpster diving, I have saved a lot of money,” – Melanie Diaz
Diaz's finds have been nothing short of remarkable. She has unearthed books, toys, clothing, home decor, and even pet food. Many of these items are brand new, with tags still attached, particularly those found at Homesense. Diaz credits this store as her most fruitful source of pristine items. Rather than reselling her discoveries like some divers do, Diaz chooses to give them away or send them back to her home country, Colombia, where they can be put to good use.
“Homesense has been the best store to go to because everything I have found still has tags on — all the items are brand new. Most things I find should not be in the dumpster,” – Melanie Diaz
“I don’t sell the items I find, I will donate the stuff I don’t want to keep,” – Melanie Diaz
Diaz's passion for dumpster diving was sparked by videos on TikTok showing individuals flaunting their profitable rescues from the trash. Her full-time commitment to this hobby stems from the thrill of the hunt and the surprise element associated with each dive.
“I really love dumpster diving, you never know what you are going to find -— it is always a surprise,” – Melanie Diaz
Diaz's story echoes that of other dumpster divers who have turned this practice into a lucrative venture. One Texas mom reportedly earns $76,000 annually by reselling salvaged items online. Another cost-conscious diver claims to have saved $50,000 over two years on clothing and essentials through this activity.
The allure of dumpster diving has even led to personal connections. Scrap-happy Dave Sheffield met his wife Erin during a dive. Their love story began amidst discarded treasures when Erin popped her head over a dumpster to ask Dave what he was doing.
“We met in a dumpster. I saw him, popped my head over and asked what he was doing,” – Erin
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