A 22-YEAR-old has found $20,000 worth of brand-new goods by diving headfirst into dumpsters — and she’s proud of her hobby.
What started as a late-night curiosity quickly turned into a passion, and now Melanie Diaz of Tampa, Florida, has over 2.5 million TikTok followers watching her every dive.
Her daily trips to stores such as Bath & Body Works, Five Below, and TJ Maxx are helping her decorate her entire home for free.
She’s even found 12 pairs of brand-new Nike Air Jordans tossed into a dumpster outside a store.
“I started dumpster diving around a year ago,” Diaz said. “One day, it was like one in the morning, and I saw a video about all the dumpster divers. I couldn’t believe it.
“So I decided to go see it for myself and see if it was true. I remember the first place that I went was Five Below — the dumpster was full of items.”
Since then, Diaz has fully embraced the dumpster diving lifestyle.
“I’ve been doing this for around a year and a half,” she said. “I do it full time — every day.”
From that first haul, Diaz was hooked.
Now, she frequents various store dumpsters, always making sure to steer clear of private property.
“I usually don’t go on private property because I don’t want to get into that,” she said.
“But I go to places that don’t say ‘private property’ and dumpster dive there.”
While some might expect a random assortment of discarded junk, Diaz has found some seriously amazing items.
“I think the best thing that I ever found was 12 pairs of Jordans,” she said. “That’s one of the craziest finds that I’ve had.
“When I go to Home Goods, I find home decor. When I go to Five Below, I find toys. So, it depends on which store you go to.”
One of her biggest scores was a massive haul valued at $1,200.
Go in the mornings 30 minutes after the stores open because that’s when they throw away their stuff.
Melanie Diaz
Another highlight included eight bags full of candles from Bath & Body Works.
“That was the other craziest find,” she said. “When I started, I also went to TJ Maxx and the dumpster was full of Christmas stuff, little Christmas trees, decorations, dog toys, lights, all of that.”
Diving into dumpsters isn’t without its hazards, though. Diaz takes precautions, wearing leggings and using her clothes to protect her hands from sharp objects.
“Sometimes there is broken glass,” she said. “Right when I get home, I take a shower.”
Despite her incredible finds, Diaz doesn’t profit off them.
Instead, she donates many of the items she salvages to friends, family, and those in need.
“I don’t sell any of the stuff that I find,” she said. “I usually donate the stuff — give it to my friends, my family — and keep some for myself.”
Her unique hobby has garnered massive support online.
“My TikTok account is the biggest with 2.5 million followers,” Diaz explained.
“From there, I started working on my Instagram, posting content every day, and YouTube with 40,000 followers.
“I’m really happy with all the support people have given me on my dumpster diving journey.
“I started dedicating myself to content creating full time and I’m a photographer on the side,” she added, explaining how she balances her passion with a newfound career.
“I got a house like five months ago and some of the stuff that I found, I started decorating my house with that. And I’m still doing it every time I find stuff.”
For those interested in trying their hand at dumpster diving, Diaz offered a few tips.
“Go in the mornings 30 minutes after the stores open because that’s when they throw away their stuff,” she advised. “Also go 30 minutes after the stores close at night.”
Diaz takes pride in what she does and the awareness it brings about waste.
“It’s crazy how the stores waste so many products that are brand new,” she said. “And I’m happy I can dumpster dive and save those parts so they can have a second chance.”
