I have never done dumpster diving, but I have been searching for places in Calgary where I moved 2 years ago...So far, no luck, all grocery stores big and small use compactors or lock their dumpsters. What a shame, I've been having dreams of finding huge wheels of cheese and chunks of prosciutto behind the Italian supermarket near my house, or discarded boxes of fine chocolate from the Belgian chocolate store a block away...
But for many years, I lived in Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada) which is famous for its dump. On summer weekends, you can see groups of friends and entire families spend sunny days scavenging there for hours on end. 'Dumpers', as we all describe each other, all know each other too, and come from all walks of life: teachers, mechanics, builders, lawyers, engineers, environmental scientists, local politicians, small business owners, regular Joe's, bottle recyclers, etc. The dump is like a hardware store -actually so much better because it is free-, and on top of that, it is a place to socialize and meet your friends! And where else in town could you find what you need to finish your project, from building a fence to finishing your chalet in the bush. Windows, building materials, wiring, car and ATV parts, name it, you'll find it. Why so much abundance? While a lot of people there are long time Northerners, many are there for a few years to make a buck, then go back South: from government workers to executives to tradespeople, etc. Also, due to its location and the extremely high costs of shipping, it is too expensive for most people leaving town to ship their belongings, so it is often quicker and easier to make a few trips to the dump, with the knowledge that almost everything will be reused, recycled, or re-purposed.
I, for one found countless stuff there, most of them new in their original boxes. The list is long and I am not kidding: exercise bike, vacuum-pack machine, electric knife, skateboards, skates, irons, clothes hangers, rope, cable, chains, cross country skis, most building material and hardware used to fix-maintain-upkeep my house over 12 years, new pants, shirts, t-shirts, boots, boxes of new paint, wood stain, lawn care products, engine oil, every single type of household and car cleaner and wax and fluids, a power washer, power and manual tools, a mig welder, a boat motor, vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, dishes, pots, pans, toaster, faucets, windows, siding, lawnmower, shovels, rakes, garden hoses, tables, chair, cowboy hats, watches, jewelry, telephone, answering machine, baseball bats, fishing rods, tackle box, etc. Need to repaint the garden shed? No problem. Want to build yourself a shack in the bush? You'll find anything you need, including kitchen cabinets, sink, and furniture. Even a barbeque!
I spent so much time there, and I miss it. I am even thinking about doing a quick road trip this summer just to visit the place!