Dumpster diver finds $30K worth of luxury items in trash

By Emma Dunn

A glam mom has found $30k worth of items digging through the trash for treasure in the last six months - including a piano and a Burberry coat worth $500.

Ariana Rodriguez, 35, has always loved thrifting but started sourcing free items three years ago after joining her neighborhood 'buy nothing' group on Facebook.

There she spotted others who would go stooping - sourcing of items that have been left out on the street - and decided to give it a go herself.

She started to find toys and clothes on sidewalks and six months ago started digging through dumpsters and trash bags to find more treasure.

She estimates she's found $30k worth of items - including a vintage Burberry coat worth $500, Prada shoes worth $900 and a Sohmer & Co piano worth anywhere between $3k to $10k.

Ariana isn't able to take it all home but what she doesn't keep she either gives to the church for people in need or resells it on.

The mom-of-three also hunts in full glam to show 'anyone can be a trash digger.'Dumpster diver finds $30k worth of itemsDumpster diver finds $30k worth of items

Ariana, who owns a vintage reselling business, from New York City, said: "It's like a treasure hunt every time.

"I enjoy everything about it - it's the thrill of it.

"The biggest part of it is my profound desire to keep things out of landfill.

"I always dress up to leave the house.

"I hunt in full glam - with my full outfit on.

"Anyone can do it.

"I hope the stigmas are removed - there's nothing wrong with it."

Ariana started realizing how much she could find for free and on the streets after joining her local neighborhood 'buy nothing' group in 2022.

She started "stooping" around her area more - getting free toys for her kids - aged six, three, and two.

She said: "I started getting really into it."

Six months ago she started going trash digging which entails "going through bin bags and finding treasure".

Ariana will give non-expired food, blankets and clothes she finds to her local church and keeps arts and crafts for her kids to play with.

This month she found a whole bin bag of games - worth $200. She also found a Stokke high chair for her youngest - worth $397.

But she doesn't like to keep too much herself - preferring to find it a new home.

She said: "I resell a lot of it.

"Even if I find small trinkets I'll sell them.

"If it's furniture I'll keep it for a while and then I put it up for sale."

Ariana says she is amazed at what people throw out - and will also often go to apartment clean outs to dig through for items.

She said: "People get sick of furniture and just dump it.

"I've found incredible pieces - mirrors, night stands, you name it.

"I've found jewelry - people throw out real gold.

"I've even found money in the trash.

"I found a Bally briefcase - I think it's from the 1960s."

Ariana believes she has found thousands of pounds worth of items in the past six months.

She said: "It could be $10k, $20k, $30k worth.

"For everything I've seen it's hundreds of thousands.

"It's only the last six months I've been seriously doing trash digs."

Ariana tried to go dumpster diving at least once a week - but has to juggle this around parenting.

She said: "It's quality over quantity."

Ariana says 80 to 90 percent of her life is now thrifted.

She said: "I know I can find stuff for free.

"It makes you really conscious."

Ariana says some trolls say she will get "bed bugs" and it's "disgusting" digging through the trash but she doesn't care.

She said: "It's more embarrassing to be over-consuming and throwing everything out."

She hopes to inspire others to get out snooping or trash digging and says her husband, Erick, 35, a day trader, has even got on board.

Ariana said: "It's like diving for gold - you never know what you're going to find.

"When you're out doing a trash dig you'll see someone's whole life.

"There is a whole historical component."

Ariana's recent trash dig finds:

• Sohmer & Co piano - worth between $3k to $10k
• Table - worth $750 to $3.5k
• Jibbitz charms - worth $50
• Basketball hoop - worth $35
• Bag of Hermes boxes - worth $175
• Glass lamp - worth $150
• Bag of games - worth $200
• Glass vanity - worth $2,500
• Bedside table - worth $949