dumpster diving

American  

Or Dumpster diving

noun

1. the practice of foraging in garbage that has been put out on the street in dumpsters, garbage cans, etc., for discarded items that may still be valuable, useful, or fixable.

---

dumpster diving British  

/ ˈdʌmpstə /

noun

1. the practice of searching through dustbins for discarded but still usable or valuable objects such as food or clothes

---

Etymology

Origin of dumpster diving

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“You brought me here to dig through trash. This is your big gesture? This is how you planned to apologize? By taking me dumpster diving in your backyard?”

From Literature

Now three companies that operate in California are paying millions following an investigation that included some dumpster diving.

From Los Angeles Times

For the locals who couldn’t afford one of his instruments, dumpster diving to obtain a guitar was frequent and critical.

From Los Angeles Times

The research team went through a process they called "dumpster diving" to find these natural antibiotics.

From BBC

Any casual fan knows the Dodgers cleaned up this offseason while the Angels mostly engaged in dumpster diving.

From Los Angeles Times