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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of dumpster diving

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

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 • May 15, 2025

Easily available food from avian "dumpster diving," especially at fast-food restaurants, can prove lethal to the birds due to high quantities of salt, fat, sugar, grease and contaminants.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2024

Journalist Hamza Hamki, from the city of Qamishli, says "dumpster diving" is not widespread across the north-east but that the number of people resorting to it has increased.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2023

In New South Wales, sulfur-crested cockatoos mastered the art of dumpster diving — then taught their peers.

From New York Times • Jun. 10, 2022

“Nah. It’s safety glass. Besides, all those years of dumpster diving makes a dog tough. Scruffy, Tater, and me did a quick sweep of the kennels.”

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein