OK, I hope this is not too contraverisal...

I was driving home from school today through a part of town where it was garbage day.  Now, I have been on the prowl for items to furnish my sister's apartment when she moves out from my house.  I noticed that there was a lamp that looked like it was in good condition, so I pulled over.  I have collected items like that people set out on the curb for many years now with good success, but usually I find household items or clothing.  Today, when I looked, I found a small bag full of pantry items.  Nothing in the bag was wet or smelly.  I should also mention that I checked all expiration dates and they were fine.  I ended up taking the whole bag in my car (outside of bag was clean) and sorted it out at home.  From that bag, I salvaged the following:  fancy tea bags in a cannister, unopened box of crackers, a big pump dispenser with Soft Soap, two cans of potatoes, one can of regular tuna, one can of tuna in a gold can (some kind of premium tuna), a roll of tape, a big box that looked like it came from a store like Costco or Sam's full of hot cocoa packets,.  Everything was unopened with the exception of the tea bags, but the cannister has a tight seal on it and nothing could have gotten in the cannister while it was in that bag.  There was also a big tupperware-like container for under the bed that I will wash out (it wasn't filthy or anything, but I will scrub it to make sure) and a very nice University of Pittsburgh travel mug.  I do live in a part of town that is full of students who are always moving and throwing away a lot of stuff, so I suspect that was the case with these items.  There were other things that I didn't keep that included those Capri sun drinks in pouches (I don't use those and I wasn't sure if they would be any good) and a big bag of walnuts that were opened (unfortunately!) 

I'm curious to hear what others think about this.  On one hand, I feel like I am not in a position where I have to go through other people's garbage to feed my family, but on the other hand, I feel like everything was in very good condition, so why not?  I'm also sad that someone would throw this stuff away and not give it to a food pantry or even some friends or neighbors! 

Alison from Pittsburgh

My take on this is that it is dangerous to pick up anything outside for your use now that there are epidemics of bedbugs in many major metropoles (certainly NYC, SF, & Los Angeles).  Furthermore, as to the food, there are always lunatics who poison food & leave it out purposefully as a way of killing anonymously & at a distance.  Remember poisoned Halloween apples?

 WOOHOO!  Great find, if all passed your personal ick factor and inspection I say go for it.  When I met my hubby he was taking MS classes at a state college, we often dived for food items and it saved us plenty on our budget.  Not to mention the savings on clothing, furniture, etc  Again good for you!!   : )

My husband and I are always looking for stuff when we drive around town. We even joke about "see any good garbage?"

I've never found food items but I have gotten things like a china hutch that had broken the glass in the hutch part so we took that off and made a buffett table that now sits in my dining room. I've found dishes, baskets, clothes, a very nice old suitecase that looks like its from the 40's, TV's, ect.

Another good place to look for stuff is around the dumpsters at apartment complexes. You wouldnt belive the furnature that people move out and leave and then it gets taken out to the dumpsters.