One man's trash is another man's treasure?

Oh I absolutely belive it is true. There was once that I found a very high priced violin in the trash. It was missing only one string. The bow was fine and the case was beautiful and had extra strings in it. I took down to my sister who worked in the music industry at the time. she said it was quite an immaculate piece but for the string which could easily be replaced because there was in fact a spare in the case. she was very confused as to why someone would throw it out when it is worth so much. She happily fixed the one string for me and told me where to go to sell it. However, when I went down to the place to sell it I noticed a flier on a bulletin board about donating instruments to families of child prodigies that could not afford them. I turned around and went there to donate the violin. The people were shocked that I brought it in. I tucked a note into the case for the future owner and wished them well. I got a little a few months later from a little girl named Lin. She thanked me profusely for donating the gift and told me that she was going to play at one of our local concert halls. She asked me to be present and enclosed a ticket for me. This girl was truly blessed. She played so beautifully and it was good to see another man's trash become another little girl's treasure.

I used to be a trash man. I hear of people digging in the trash all the time. there's some pretty interesting stuff in there. My mom does it sometimes when she sees something nice and she wants it for some reason or another. But for that to be wrong you would really have to pick through other people's trash, I mean like the kind who go around to every cart or dumpster before trash pickup.

You're right! Just yesterday a friend came over to my house and saw an empty bottle of fabric softener in my waste bin. She said she wanted the bottle. I felt a little embarassed to give it to her since it was already dirty with food waste and all. So I offered her another bottle which I bought for myself to fill up water. She refused saying she really needed the bottle in my waste bin. So she took it out and washed it in front of me without feeling any shame. So I guessed, yeah it is right. Someones thrash would be someone else's treasure.

Absolutely, my fiancé found a computer/office type chair that someone had thrown out the only things wrong with it were a patch of discolouration on the back and it was missing it's wheels, he brought it home 'borrowed' the wheels from mine (as it could sit flat on the floor without them but this other chair couldn't) and he has had the chair now nearly 5 years and says it is the comfiest chair he has ever had and will not part with it. Also I hate throwing anything out that is still in good condition, I always ask around friends and family to see if anyone can use it before getting rid of it. Recently we have started using http://www.freecycle.org to get rid of a few things and have also managed to get a few things we needed.

Yes it can be true. There are lots of people who get rid of their stuff by throwing them out because they can't be bothered to donate them or something. You are lucky to find something in someone else's trash. I know a man who used to pick up a lot of trash and he has found mobile phones, camera still in box and with receipt. He sells these stuff to make an extra buck.

my brother in law lives near a ritzy neighborhood, very posh and elite (although he is not by any means) he would go around on trash day before the trucks came and find many treasures. Completely useable items in very good condition. The people just grew tired of them. Once he recovered a fur coat and sewn inside the lining was a satin purse filled with gold and costly jewelry. I really thought he should have returned it to the family, I am not sure if he sold them or did finally have a case of consciousness and return them.

I LOVE other poeples trash..lol Alot of the time it is something great and altho they can not use it...we would love to have it! We have a website here in our community where people can offer their old trash or unwanted itmes for free. They post an add, you respond if you want it, then you go pick it up. It is a great way to keep un necessary things out of the landfill. So many things are offered. Anything from tv's to childrens clothing and toys! It is awesome.

Trash is trash, even if it is someone elses trash. You people sound like papparazzi searching other peoples dustbins to find something valuable. There is a word for that : it is RAT.

Yes it's true. I love yard sales. I would have had to save that table myself. I'm surprised at the things people just throw away sometimes.

I truely believe that the adage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." I have obtained many things from people who happened to say they were going to trash sometihng and I said, "NO...give it to me!" I really think that on trash day all we should see in folk's trash is coffee grounds, empty food wrappers, baby diapers and such! Everything that is remotely usable should be donated to charity, given to people who can use for parts or fix the items and etc. Someone can always use what we deem as 'trash!'

Dumpster diving, I LOVE IT! yeas i do believe that one mans trash is anothers treasure. I have found many many usefl items that way in almost new condition and have seen people taking out of my trash( before i discoverd freecycle.org) my boyfriend(now husband) would laugh at me when i would tell him to turn around or go back and get soemting but now, he does the same thing he has found useful tings as well.

I do believe it .. i also believe to a greater extent it can be about emotions and feelings aswell... i mean.. one might find it to be ridiculous other might find it hilarious so on so forth... i think its the perception that makes the hell lot of a difference ... even if its some material thing

Absolutely true! Of course, even my own trash is my own treasure (I'm a hopeless scavenger/reuser). But I work at the transfer station for my local waste management company, and I see it all. From absolutely dirty, nasty, stinking, rotten, filthy, gross trash to "What the heck are they throwing that waay for?!" almost brand new stuff, sometimes. And I do ask people if I see something that they are disposing of, and so far, everybody just wants rid of it, they don't care if somebody else has it. So yes, yes, and yes. :) My $0.02 at the moment.

It is very true and that is a big reason for sites like Ebay having early success. My brother works for a trah company and he brought home many items from the trash that were quite useful since he has three kids who grow like weeds LOL. He has also passed several items on to my mother who has made quite a bit of extra money selling them on ebay. My husband did nothing buy and sell used stuff for about two years and he found some wonderful deals at yard sales for a fraction of what he turned around and sold it for.

That saying is very true. In my dupster alone I have found a very good kitchen table. I just washed it up and it is just fine. A little used but fine. I also got 2 chairs to go with it. I also found someones baseball card colletion. Some of them are kind of old and worth between $2-$12. I have only looked up a few. yard sales are also a great place to get things for ebay, and the Salvation Army store.

Oh ya, I always look around to make sure Im not missing something people are throwing out. When I was younger my parents and aunt and uncle use to go garbage picking. They found some old comics once. They were all in great condition. Dad and uncle split them in half. i just took my dads half the other day to price check them, and some of them are worth 80-90 bucks or so. There super old spiderman one, archie ones. There awsome. I also found a kids trailer not to long ago. The kind that you hook to the back of the bike and pull the kids around in it. It was in great shape. Only thing wrong with it was the top of the fabric had a small slit in it.

Oh yes, That is why there is recycling thing, and trift shops. there are just some people who does not treasure things, It may be trash to them already, so If you can make use of it, why not ask for it then. Sometimes also, mens pride steps on the way. Even if they find treasure in the trash of others, they are too ashame to just ask.

I do believe this- I once found a great old hutch at the roadside pickup.. Of course I stopped and got it. Just needed to be sanded and refinished-- I like the old country look- It's a perfect addition to my kitchen! Some people toss out some great items! I also love garage /yard sales! I don't buy clothing!- but the other goodies you find. This year I'm looking for a chest-- I want to refinish an old one into a hope chest for my daughter! So yes I firmly believe that "Ones mans trash is another msas treasure" Great post!

i don't find things around garbage bins, but i used to scroung around the dump, i found enough stuff to build a couple of chook pens, a shed and lots of other stuff that was really useful, the dumps at mining towns and farm comunities are the best

that's true, bcoz every person has different taste and nature from the other. that's why it likes or dislikes things accordingly, which is quite naturally.