Garbage Collectors Share the Strangest Things They Found on the Job

Garbage collectors play an important role because without them, the world would be complete mayhem. They often work in pairs and ride in the back of the garbage truck, picking up trash bags and throwing them into the trash compactor before moving on to the next neighborhood.

But while most people’s garbage is stinky and uninteresting, some collectors have found some of the strangest things in people’s trash.

Lawnmowers and Speakers

Not only did Reddit user cannonrecneps find some awesome surround sound speakers in people’s trash, but he also found a couple of lawnmowers that he refurbished and sold for some extra cash

“I live in an area where there are many wealthy people. I’m the one that will take peoples trash, well not so much now because I’ve learned that less is more but things I’ve found- Perfect 5 channel surround with wireless rear speakers- now in my garage Several almost working riding lawnmowers.

Usually need about $50 and some work and then I sell for 500-1000. Nice Yamaha kids gas 4 wheeler. Couldn’t get the truck there fast enough. Plastic roller coaster that both my kids played on for many years and gave us many memories. But after a while I started to get why people do it.

It’s fun to see people excited about something free that they will use.

So for a lot of things I will either put by the street and people will come ask if it’s really free or I will post it for sale and we will negotiate a price and then when they get here I will tell them they can have it. That way it’s something that someone really wants.

I had a nice TV stand that this Mexican dude showed up for, we had agreed on $150, he borrowed a truck from a family member and drove over an hour for it.

He had neck tattoos (I have some too but they were covered I say that to say I don’t judge people for tattoos but he definitely looked like a tough dude) and when I told him he could have it he didn’t understand why I would do that but when he finally figured out it was just because, he got emotional and wanted a hug.

That s*** had me floating for like a month. Pay it forward if you can. You never know who’s day or week you’re gonna make.”

Apartment Trash

Reddit user FRUIT_FETISH doesn’t need to go on Amazon or even to a flea market to find a bargain on things for their apartment. As a garbage collector, they have found things to accentuate their place free of charge.

“Finally something I can contribute too! I do trash at apartments. In the year I’ve worked the job, I’ve found and kept:

-a couch

-2 desk chairs

-a floor lamp

-deck furniture

-a TV stand

-my cat

-various decorations I’ve given to my mom

Some things I’ve sold

-a bike, $40

-some outdoor vases, $30

-a bed frame, $50

-an original xbox with at least 80 games all in a box, $20 (to my friend that collects old video games)

But yeah, it’s crazy what people throw away.”

Trashy Clothes

Reddit user Kch1986 never had to worry about ever running out of clothes. Then again, they might not have been too popular in school if they had told their classmate where their dad had gotten their clothes from.

“My dad worked at a landfill for most of my childhood and my brother and I both got into related companies that directly dealt with landfills for a while.

One of the most common things I remember hearing about and seeing all the time were clothing with minor irregularities that had to be thrown away by said clothing company. It was stuff like Roxy, Vans and other stuff you’d see at places like Tillys or similar clothing store.

One of my old coworkers families basically were clothed their whole life from this type of clothing being dumped.

The clothing was clean or could be cleaned to a decent level that the clothing was fine to wear. It was dumb stuff like small rip, missing zipper or some other weird thing they couldn’t sell it that way. Everyone at the landfill was basically in on the scheme.

When the truck with the clothing pulled up to the fee booth, someone would radio people at the dump site and it was like a pack of vultures, everyone on the site would swarm the truck as soon as everything was dumped out of the truck.”

A Wife

Reddit user homestead1111 was sifting through a garbage truck when he found a woman there. She didn’t get dumped there, but she was certainly doing a lot of dumping. And yet neither of them realized this encounter was going to change their lives forever.

“I found my wife in a pile of garbage while working on a garbage truck.

I was working being trained as a garbage man and one day a women was throwing out way to much good stuff, boxes of books and I could see she was trying to fill a car and mini van, so I figured she was moving and having to sacrifice good stuff.

I talked to her and offered to come back later and help her move so she didn’t have to throw away so much stuff, and it ended up being a story that her husband left her for her best friend, and they moved in together, and she couldn’t afford the townhouse anymore as she was undergoing cancer treatment.

We got married one year later. I like to say I found her in the trash and fixed her up, but the truth is it is opposite. I was the trash she fixed up I.”