Re: DUMPSTER DIVING GARBAGE PICKING READ & SEE WHAT IS FOUND HERE UPDATED 2011
Well...At one time in my misspent youth, I was the GARBAGE TRUCK DRIVER for the ski resort of Sun Valley, Idaho. Wasn't really a garbage route, just 11 choice dumpsters to hit everyday, then a 2 hour round trip scenic drive to the dump. I'd milk it and make it take all day. These dumpsters were behind the Sun Valley lodge (which had two high end restaurants), two lift area dumpsters. and a number of big, expensive Condo Complexes. When ever the help in the Restaurants dropped the big wheels of gourmet cheese and cracked the skin, the health code said they had to throw them out when the started molding. I had inside help with the employees, and we made dang sure lots of those 35 pound wheels of cheese got "dropped". Really expensive cheese and I would sell 5 pound chunks for $10 bucks all day long. They would leave them on the back dock next to the dumpster for me to pick up. They would buy the largest boxes of wine for cooking, and throw 'em out with a half gallon or so left in them. I would salvage the bladders several times a week and never had to spend a dime at home on alcohol, either. Rooms were routinely remodeled an when they tore out the carpets, I would grab the rolls and resale them. The Condos always had high end stuff, and the people who stayed there wasted a lot, because they only had a suitcase to fly home with. The would clean out their freezers and throw all the steaks, still frozen, into a big garbage sack and throw it out. which I would scoop up, still frozen. But the best was Xmas day. The condos were full and families that had dropped a lot of money to be there. They would ski the week, then of course, get a brand new pair of Skis for Xmas. That morning on the dump run, as I rode up to every dumpster, I would see dozens of skiis sticking out. I would get 50+ pairs of fancy skiis, easy, and I could sell those all day long like hot cakes for 25 bucks a pair. All kinds of old framed photos, lamps and decorations came out of the Lodge basement storage when they were cleaning out the junk. Found lots of good, new stuff thrown, too, because folks would hit the shops there for their new sweaters, boots and Parkas, and not have the room to take the old ones back with them. It was truly the only job I ever had, that I could say I looked forward to going to work, because everyday was a treasure hunt. A treasure hunt I was getting paid to go on, and being supplied a truck and gasoline to boot. I never knew what I was going to find each day I went in. I paid my rent, all my expenses, and my drinks (which was a considerable bill) in those ski town bars, without ever touching my paycheck. Saved all of that.
