Yesterday, my friend and I were waiting for a parking spot at the club when something amusing happened. We were stretching outside when an elderly man appeared, carrying a bamboo stick with bags on each end. He quietly tiptoed to the back corner of the lot and, like a ninja, hopped into the large recycling dumpster to rummage through it.
“Treasure can be found anywhere,” we mused, watching him.
After about 5 minutes, he emerged with his bags now bulging to the size of his body. He walked away happily, no longer tiptoeing around us.
“He’s reducing the dumpster’s load, taking plastic bottles and cans,” I said to my friend. “Maybe he can cash them in, though I doubt it’s much.”
We were still waiting five minutes later when another man, this time younger and also with a bamboo stick and bags, marched in. He didn’t tiptoe like the older man; he just climbed into the dumpster. Ten minutes later, he crawled out muttering, “Don’t people recycle anymore?!” before walking away in disgust.
We felt a bit out of place, continuing to stretch on the pavement. Were we being filmed for a recycling police test? Nah, just a dose of reality.
Observations from the Dumpster of Treasure:
1. Experience matters: The older man moved like a cat, timing his entry and exit perfectly. He grabbed his treasures swiftly and left with a smile. The younger man was more reckless, spent double the time, and came out empty-handed.
2. Competition is fierce: If not for the older man, the younger one might have scooped up all the goods. These dumpster hunters are everywhere, all day, competing for the same recyclables.
3. Survival instinct: Both men are commendable for hustling to make some money. Instead of complaining about their economic situation, they risked embarrassment to collect recyclables, earning cents at a time.
The Dumpster’s Reward:
If each bottle is worth 5 cents, 200 bottles equal $10. Minus the 20% recycling station fee, they still pocket $10 tax-free. The older man, collecting about 50 bottles in five minutes, could earn $15 per hour visiting other dumpsters. Not bad compared to our state’s minimum wage of $8/hr.
Be Proud of Your Work:
There’s no shame in the way these men went about their business. In contrast, I remember my own job at McDonald’s, where I preferred working in the back making Egg McMuffins to avoid being seen by friends. Despite offers for a promotion, I chose anonymity for free apple pies and language practice, missing out on chances to impress a girl with a nicer car than my bicycle.
After enduring the longest recession in history, we’ve all felt financial strain. But overcoming adversity, regardless of the work, defines us. What matters is doing it well and with passion.
Once you find your own “dumpster of treasure,” manage your finances wisely with tools like Personal Capital. Share your stories of hope and side gigs—it might inspire others. Keep searching, because you never know what you might find!
