Dumpster-diving for tossed treasures

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By the end of each school year, students begin "spring cleaning" by tossing miscellaneous items they have obtained during the year in the dumpsters.

But this normal process has a new ending. Students have recently found Putnam County residents retrieving discarded items from the dumpsters.

At the end of last year as Sigma Chi fraternity prepared for a renovation of its chapter house, several groups jumped into the house's dumpster looking for anything they could potentially use.

President of Sigma Chi Tyler Giesting said they were taking anything they could find, including blankets, broken lamps, clothes, extension cords and broken window air conditioners.

Giesting said they even took items that seemed beyond repair or that he considered to be garbage.

"I think they were looking for anything they could either use for themselves or fix and sell, especially any metal they could sell as scrap," Giesting said. "We had one woman who was able to take several of our old dining room chairs for her son's homes, both of whom were disabled veterans."

Giesting felt it was better that the items be taken by these people to sell or use rather than just ending up in a landfill. He said the fraternity could have had a yard sale, but it was easier to throw the items out and have people who needed the items come and help themselves.

Most of the groups who visited did so in the daytime and asked permission before taking the items, like going to a yard sale without having to bargain for a price.

But safety precautions also arise with dumpster diving. When divers come at night, some throw items while digging through the dumpsters and cause damage to the surrounding areas and other individuals.

Giesting said he had to call in Public Safety officers one evening for a group of dumpster divers. They were a danger to themselves and surrounding property with the things they were loudly throwing out of the dumpster.

According to Angie Nally, director of Public Safety, when it is a safety concern, like being in the dumpster, the person is asked to leave and the situation is documented.

For many, dumpster diving is a hobby that allows them to come across odds and ends that may be of use. Giesting said the people who go through dumpsters "are smart — they know what they can use and what is worth money."

He added that as long as people go about it the right way by asking permission and are safe about it then it doesn't pose any threats to anyone.

Freshman Stephanie Fernadez said she can see the reasoning behind "dumpster diving."

"It's good that people take what can be saved and used rather than for it to end up in the trash."