Dumpster diving is the controversial five-finger discount without the criminal consequences – and it has netted one woman a whopping $2 million worth of discarded goods she found while rummaging through the trash.
Jennifer Llenas, 40, has been digging in the trash since she was in college. Now, twenty years later, the thrifty sieve has uncovered hordes of valuable goods, including expensive cookware, hair tools and vacuum cleaners – which are still in working condition.
Although Jennifer from Baltimore now has a marketing agency and can buy the items at full price at the store, she says she enjoys “rescuing” goods discarded by stores so they don’t go to waste.
“I like it, it’s like a treasure hunt,” beamed the mother of two.
Jennifer Llenas, 40, has been dumpster diving for 20 years, finding $2 million worth of trash items, including robot vacuums, expensive cookware and hair tools
The Baltimore mother of two says ‘nothing’ makes her happier than finding things she can donate to people in need, and she also loves finding luxury items for herself and her family
“I go maybe once a week – I just go if I have to run an errand, I go and look at the dumpsters,” she said.
She shares her thrift store gift with her family and friends, and even gives some of her prized finds to her family.
“My sister loves it when I find decorations and kitchenware for her house,” she joked.
Although the busy mom has found many valuables in the trash, she admits that her habit probably doesn’t save her much money because she keeps the things she likes and not the things she really needs.
“But considering what I’ve found, it amounts to about $100,000 a year,” she marveled.
Jennifer took up the hobby after an art professor suggested she look for materials in a dumpster.
Now she has a successful marketing company, is married and has a home where she is raising her two teenage children, but she still likes to rummage when she sees a dumpster.
When she finds a load of goods, she loads them into her truck before taking them to her house to sort them and repair any damaged items in the trash.
The marketing professional said “nothing” makes her happier than finding things she can donate to people in need. She also loves finding luxury items for herself and her family.
The marketing professional can now purchase the items in-store at full price. She enjoys ‘rescuing’ goods thrown away by stores so they don’t go to waste
Despite donating a significant portion of her findings to charities or people in need, Jennifer admits her hobby can be bittersweet because so much produce goes to waste
“It’s really sad that the stores could take this stuff and donate it somewhere where it will be used, but they don’t,” Jennifer said.
Some of her impressive (and expensive) finds include a $600 Dyson Airwrap hairdryer in mint condition – complete with all the attachments, a $500 Roomba vacuum cleaner, and a $400 Le Creuset Dutch oven.
It’s not just household items, as Jennifer also finds beautiful designer handbags, expensive jewellery, unworn clothes, beauty products, non-perishable food parcels, books and school supplies in her bins.
Jennifer says she dumpster dives so she can help others (pictured are some of her dumpster finds)
Her family’s home is now equipped with a full home security system, robot vacuums on every floor, a voice-activated trash can and high-quality cookware – all sourced from dumpsters.
“My house is not cluttered, but when I find things I need or can use, I will keep them,” she shared.
Despite donating a significant portion of her findings to charities or people in need, Jennifer admits her hobby can be bittersweet.
‘It’s really fun, but sometimes it also makes me sad – once I found a dumpster full of kids’ craft supplies. That really touched me,” she remembers.
‘I get a lot of feedback from the places where I donate. They are very grateful,” she gushed.
“It’s really sad that the stores could take these items and donate them somewhere where they will be used, but they don’t,” she continued.
“Sometimes the stores even destroy things before they dump them, with paint or bleach, and that breaks my heart. I think that’s even worse than throwing it away.’
The eagle-eyed treasure hunter admitted that she is sometimes asked if she is poor or a hoarder, but she mainly does this to help other people who could use it.
‘You can’t go dumpster diving anywhere. Maryland has pretty lenient laws in this area, so I can do just fine here,” Jennifer explained.
“I get asked if I’m poor and that’s why I do it – but for me it’s just a hobby,” the mother continued.
‘I do it more because I can help others than myself.’
