But wait! First, I gotta explain what DD'ing (as many call it) or recycling (as my mom calls it) is.

I first found out about dumpster diving through an article in my newspaper. Three guys used it as a way to stay alive during the winter.
Then I hit the trusty 'Net. I found a site called http://www.dumpsterworld.com. I signed up and immediately found hundreds of DD'ers. I asked for some advice, and I got it.

One bit of advice that a guy gave was to carry a flashlight (to see into the dumpster) and a stick with a hook on the end (to snag perfectly good stuff).

A lot of people go into DD'ing for various reasons. It's in their family; they don't want to rely on money; or they looked around and they found information on dumpster diving that encouraged them to get into this fun, money-saving enterprise.

Now... that wintry question at the beginning of the article. Heat (in summer) makes bacteria multiply rapidly (sounds like science, eh?), but in winter the cold kills them. So eggs, meat and such things can survive, so long as you live somewhere where it really does get cold. Editor's Note: This probably wouldn't work in southern California or Florida, I'm thinking.

But there's more. Dumpster World has bulletin boards where I read that someone once found a $3,000 painting while DD'ing. And here's another reason for you to consider doing this: I once posted that I was nervous about DD'ing, and someone said that I was 14, and that that was good. He also pointed out that if a cop saw a 15-year-old DD'ing, he'd just yell at the kid if he was a jerk, but if it was a 35-year-old man, the guy would probably get arrested for trespassing... but even there, that's the worst that could happen to him.

Does dumpster diving sound gross any more?
Yes? Too bad!
No? Great! Good luck!

Now I've gotta go fiddle with my chi, make sure it has the right volume, then flee!
*runs*

Editor's Note: Okay, we're definitely not encouraging you to do this, but it's interesting to learn about. If you do get curious, please talk about it with your parents first -- I'd hate for you to get hauled home by a police officer, or assaulted by an angry store owner or homeless person. Whatever you do, be wise about it. :-)