Trash or Treasure?

By Chloe Hodnett Editor

You say trash; I say treasure. I am a thrifter, a forager, and I am a seasoned dumpster diver. You should be too, especially if you care for the planet (and your wallet.)

Actually, today I picked up the most exquisite armoire from the side of the road. Its green and golden fabric caught my eye amongst the streetlights, and there was really no question about it --that armoire was mine. Through much labor and the slight scratching of my car door frame, I made my throne fit into my little sedan and up the three floors to my apartment. There is some slight danger in side-of-the-road treasures containing critters or crawlers, but I tend to lean on the dangerous side of the road, and am willing to take the risk. I wonder if my habits of finding are hereditary, as my mother and I would frequent the dumpsters of furniture stores and haggle with yard sale entrepreneurs looking to snag a much-needed lamp or dresser.

I know I’m not alone, though, there are many Facebook groups documenting their own trash-turned-treasure adventures. In fact, Facebook Marketplace is a virtual goldmine to dig through; People love to put their old kitchen sets on there for little to nothing.

The truth is, it’s less work for people to post for someone to take their sofa than taking said sofa to the dump. It’s a winwin for everyone, even the happy bystanders congratulating each other on their foraging successes. The environment also benefits from all this, as even something as simple as a t-shirt takes gallons of water to produce.

However, I think the most important and rewarding aspect of finding is the history behind every item. Someone else sat on this chair, cherished it, and the chair remains a part of at least one living person’s memory before me. A bookshelf found on the sidewalk once held someone’s favorite books, stories that are intertwined into the personality of the bookshelf’s former owner. I am surrounded by objects of unknown origin, and that’s exactly how I like it. I’m saving money, the environment, and having an adventure while I’m doing it.

With spring cleaning coming up, many will be flocking to their street corner to drop off the random objects they no longer need. Keep your eyes peeled, because someone else’s trash is free to be treasured.

By Kieaundria Bellamy Editor