Dumpster Diving Denmark: Vintage Treasures & Crafting Supplies Galore

Need some fabric for historical costuming? Or maybe you’re in need some some candles for your period-accurate mood lighting? Come with me on 1 week of exploring the dumpsters of Copenhagen and seeing what unexpected treasures I can salvage! One man’s trash TRULY IS this woman’s treasure! It is shocking how many perfectly good items I can pull out of people’s garbages, even with a recycling system as advanced as Denmark’s. Stick with me to the end, for a break-down of the total cost of my treasure trove, and be inspired to -with the correct precautions of course- go hunting for forgotten and forsaken items in your own neck of the woods!

[@KathrynsRavens]

My first sewing machine is from a large item pickup in rural Ontario. It's the kind of thing that was someone's gran's that they had no idea what to do with! It's a 1946 Singer featherweight and it had its intact carrying case, feet and the booklet. It still works really beautifully and I'm glad it didn't go to the garbage cause I love it

[@ShannonMakes]

oh boy, all of my machines here are salvaged machines, and I have.... 6 of them, I think?! Only a couple that are in good working order, and one early Singer (somewhere before 1930, if I remember correctly) that I haven't looked at yet, but really, dumpster finds are so great! It's the most satisfying feeling, pulling something you know you can put to good use out of the trash!! (if you like upcycling, and/or you want to see what use I put some of these finds to, both my Cuban Pete-GunneSaxoween and my Miniature Fireplace videos are entirely made of trash finds).

[@moonlightcrafter6299]

What a find! I discovered that prior to my husband and I dating, my mother-in-law and her siblings put out their mother's featherweight for the garbage man. 😢

[@cindywalk9878]

When I lived in Utah I was working for the county dump in Salt Lake. I worked in the scale sheds so I got to see a lot of good things. The biggest item I got was a recliner with a massager clear back in year 2000. Coming to you from Wyoming you got The Old Granny and the really enjoying your shows.

[@stephaniew2545]

I love love love love the hunt of finding things in thrift stores, garage sales or estate sales. In college, I legit furnished my entire first apartment with roadside or you move it you take it finds. Loved watching this video! Also, the doggo footage was just the needed bit of joy that we all need ❤️

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you for the compliments! My apartment in Montreal is furnished in a very similar fashion. There, 90% of the apartment leases finish on July 1, so the streets are FULL of abandoned furniture, and I was always sure to be free all day to just wander around and inspect piles of things people didn't want!

[@julien2912]

What is 'You move it You take it'?

[@zoes_story]

My Grandad was a dedicated 'skip diver' best thing he ever found for me was a solid Stirling Silver pair of opera glasses that date to C. 1890s from the makers mark. We were building a tardis in the garden that summer because we were obsessed with Dr. Who, and he thought they'd be cool to stick on the bit of wood that was our tardis pannel. They were tied onto the panel with string for an eintire summer 😂 then when we dismantled the pannel we realised what they were. I ended up cleaning and restoring them, grandad got the lenses replaced for me for that Christmas because they were hella scratched , and I now take them to the theatre with me when I want to be fancy.

[@ShannonMakes]

Ahhhh that's so COOL!! Love it, and you're definitely the fanciest one at the theatre, that's for sure!!

[@my_flippin_journey]

*Awesome memory*

[@UnsortedSeeds]

I used to dumpster dive when I was a kid. I'd jump into the dumpster that belonged to a local fabric shop. It was right behind a friend's house. My dolls were super well-dressed with all😮the clothes I made them from what I'd get from there.

[@ShannonMakes]

Oh wow, that's so cool!! Best Dressed in dolls, for sure!

[@GreenMartha]

I'm so glad you saved the clock ! Unfortunately here recycling centers won't let you put usable stuff in a "to donate" spot. I once brought a table and the guy was like "I'm gonna smash it into pieces to make sure no one takes it home". I brought the table back home. I haven't gone thrifting much lately, but my kids had a gorgeous day bed we found in a thrift shop.

[@ShannonMakes]

That's SO crazy! If you go to a proper recycling center here, then unless you *explicitly* bring it to the section that's for donating, it get smashed beyond repair and you're not allowed to take from those sections... BUT at least our recycling centers do have a section for donations!

[@christelchristely2816]

If you try to throw something that is nice and still good into a bin at the recycling center, the workers there will scold you and tell you to put it into an extra space. It gets repaired and resold at a city facility. I live in Vienna/Austria.

[@tiffanytomasino335]

Thank you for sharing!

[@ShannonMakes]

My pleasure!

[@annesummers09]

Dumpster Diving is my favorite thing to do in the summertime. I've done it for years and I am not a hoarder. I've gotten the best stuff ever from them. The best places to go to are the rich parts of town. They are the funnest!😄👍

[@ShannonMakes]

Yea, so true about dumpster diving the rich neighborhoods.... always fun stuff to find there!!

[@connieacree4006]

I love watching your ideos. I'm almost 78 and not able to dumpster dive. I walk with a walker and it's difficult to get around. Thank you for sharing your adventures. God bless you my friend. Happy diving!❤❤

[@ShannonMakes]

Glad you are enjoying the videos, thank you for watching 💙💜♻️

[@mell5778]

My best treft was my leater couch in beautiful beige color, and it was almost new! To small for the new house the lady said.... perfect for my tiny house!😊

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that!

[@jeannechapman2696]

Love your varied videos. Better yet, your friendly personality sell the subjects. Can't get over your wealth of knowledge plus the fact you are a skilled circus performer

[@ShannonMakes]

wow, thank you so much! Glad you like them!

[@sleeplessinscandia6452]

Looks like your dog is searching for treasure for you. Super cute!

[@ShannonMakes]

I think so too! 🤣

[@reginafinan2819]

Firstly: thank you for Overly Happy Corgi in the snow. Twas delightful. :) Secondly: Your friend who was helping you is hilarious. Thirdly: I'm now wondering how difficult it would be to move to Copenhagen just for the dumpster diving opportunities....

[@ShannonMakes]

You are very welcome :-P I will make sure to pass your compliments on to my partner in crime, and let me tell you... I have dumpster dived in the USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark (there might be more that I'm not thinking of...) and they are all pretty good, you just need to have a keen eye. And definitely aim for the residential dumpsters - as many people were VERY EAGER to point out on Facebook (mostly ppl who hadn't actually watched the video), the commercial dumpsters can be dangerous to dive in.

[@reginafinan2819]

@@ShannonMakes Thanks for the tips. I'm in a smaller village/town in the west of Ireland so rarely do folks leave out stuff for others to salvage. Most people donate them to charity shops or just toss them in the garbage, like you said a lot of people just can't be arsed to figure out how to properly recycle or dispose of things. Though once things reopen (hopefully sooner rather than later) I can start properly investigating charity shops for fabric/fixings/finds and so on. :)

[@ShannonMakes]

@@reginafinan2819 Ahh yes, that does make it tougher... well if you're ever in Copenhagen, post-covid-craziness, I'd be glad to show you both my favorite dumpsters as well as my favorite thrift stores!

[@CosnerCoPiloting]

I have found so many awesome things at the curb and dumpsters. I have so many solid wood pieces in my house that cost me absolutely nothing! I always laugh at the timing of things, like one time I was saying I need to find more jelly jars for canning-a few days later I found a milk crate full of them at the thrift store in the dumpster!

[@ShannonMakes]

I also have been subject to that amazing thrift timing, I know that feeling!

[@vintagefabrics]

This video is sooo inspiring! I have thrifted and salvaged from curbs and dumpsters nearly my whole life :) I’m 66 lol It was frowned upon for many years so I tried not to let on. But when people asked how I managed to acquire such great furniture and fabrics I was thrilled that they were interested. I’ve upholstered wonderful sofas and chairs and I’m proud of accomplishments. And I’m proud of you for sharing your accomplishments. Thanks so much

[@alabee3069]

That is a massive haul! Also snow Cannelle is everything I need in life 😍 The best thing I've ever rescued from the side of the road is definitely a pedal powered sewing machine in its cabinet.

[@ShannonMakes]

Oh, that's awesome! I've pulled a couple vintage Singers out of the recycling center, and just found a more modern one on the side of the road yesterday (having been slightly damp, it's currently drying out before I see if it works properly)! And yes....Snow Cannelle is so happy :-D

[@ThanhPham-pn6is]

I love that you are so resourceful and considerate at the same time about article of clothings that others could use. You are also very handy in addition to your circle performing skills. You are amazing. Thank you for sharing your videos. Great job Shannon.

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you so much! 🥰🥰🥰

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

Learning to recycle, compost, remake, up-cycle and reuse was simple for me; because, all I had to do was go back to my parents' and grandfather's teaching from the farm.

[@barbararey-constantin5679]

I'm so glad you saved the clock. :) Thanks for the tour of residential Copenhagen, in the bargain. God bless you, keep up the good work/videos/helping save the plant. :)

[@ShannonMakes]

You're very welcome, glad you enjoyed it!!

[@J.Robison]

I, too, am a dumpster diver. Construction dumpsters are my favorite-- lots of wood good enough for building projects. I have had the police come a couple of times (called by a neighbor?). They are understanding of my desire to keep good stuff out of the waste stream and they let me keep what I've already removed, but tell me to move on. According to them/the law, the contents of the dumpster still belong to the person(s) who put them there, even if the intent is to get rid of them. OK, I kind of understand that... but it hasn't stopped me yet!

[@ShannonMakes]

100% with you there!!!

[@juliegonzales649]

Those were great finds!! I especially love the black and white geometric fabric you found! The best find I ever had was when I responded to an ad on Facebook marketplace for free fabric and the guy gave me a truckload of free fabric!! My mom and I both sewing so we split it up between us and then we donated some to people that needed the fabric.

[@ShannonMakes]

Ooooh, a whole truckload?!? That’s amazing!!

[@lindabrotherton1225]

You are amazing I got some smaller living rm furniture many yrs ago ❤

[@ShannonMakes]

Love that!!

[@KathrynTanner-t8f]

Stop it, Shannon! In my youth I delighted in picking up all kinds of stuff to re-use, some of which I did use for something, and much of which I eventually had to get rid of myself. You are giving me the itch to go on the hunt again.

[@ShannonMakes]

It's the constant cycle - what you don't use, you pass on to the next dumpster diver!

[@Murky_Heron]

Lots of good finds there, so my inner hoarder was happy for you) And at the same time my inner Mari Kondo was a bit concerned))

[@ShannonMakes]

Yea, that's the truth... always a balancing act (and why I don't usually dumpster dive with such frequency)!

[@toniasalways]

the Beverly Hillbillies was SO appropriate!

[@jenniferkuperman2589]

I love your sense of humour. You have such a gift with this youtube caper. Thank you Shannon. (En plus I'm in love with Canelle)

[@ShannonMakes]

You're very welcome, and thank YOU for watching!!

[@lorettavalmorbida7793]

I love thrifting like you. I volunteer in a thrift store and love it.

[@fayemoore2218]

You are living my dream all that kept me from being a horder was my husband.I love roadside gold and trash treasure.A woman after my own heart.Just started watching last week.👍

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you 🥰

[@damogranheart5521]

In my village, we have one clean-up day in spring and one in the fall. Items can only be placed on the curb the night before the clean-up day. Neighbors go out after dark to examine and go thru the treasures . The neighborhood teenagers are hired for half a day. They get donuts, pop, and pizza to keep them fueled up.

[@ShannonMakes]

📣Local Teens, Fueled by Donuts and Pizza, Clear Village in Record Time! 📣📰🗞

[@damogranheart5521]

@@ShannonMakes 🎆🎇🎃🎇🎆

[@christelchristely2816]

Thank God, I thought it was just me doing that😆

[@ShannonMakes]

LOL nope!!

[@Whitney_Sews]

I'm watching this trying to figure out why people are throwing away such nice things, like the hardly used iron and nice white curtains. Super awesome that you found them though!

[@ShannonMakes]

My thoughts exactly. It's not even limited to this; the curtains in my bedroom are nice, thick blackout style curtains in this lovely sea-foam green (auto correct just said "seafood green" LOL) that were still folded from being in their original packaging! My winter boots! SO👏MANY👏TOWELS👏... the list, honestly, just goes on. It's mind boggling.

[@grinninggoat5369]

Has been long said, "There's something rotten in Denmark!" so, it requires a good bit of tossing stuff before its true expiration.

[@nevem5010]

I could watch so many more adventures in dumpster-diving; this was so much fun! I'm very interested in the Danish system. Where I live, the street layout is fairly cramped (Victorian tenements) and our recycling and general waste disposal set-ups aren't great. I'm still trying to figure out what determines the timing of the emptying of the communal packaging recycling bins; I think it might have something to do with the phases of the moon... It was lovely seeing what treasure you found in the trash; thanks for taking us with you!

[@ShannonMakes]

LOL snorted some coffee at "phases of the moon" 🤣 It was a lot of fun to film (and of course to gather all those treasures), and also crazy to see how much perfectly good stuff was being thrown away even in a country with a pretty darn good recycling system! I'll be doing a panel on using recycled materials in costumes and props as part of CoSy 2021, so hopefully you can check that out and find it interesting as well!

[@dawncarter2759]

a lot of places here in the USA, its against the law to dumpster dive. A lot of the dumpsters are behind a fence with lock on it. I do love to go to rummage, garage, and estate sales. love your videos

[@Schatzie301]

Don’t know how I missed this video. Loved it and loved Canelle (sp?) in the snow. I’m too old to dumpster dive but I’m a dedicated garage sale and thrift store shopper. Loved every minute of this adventure. ❤❤❤

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you! 🥰

[@thizizliz]

Copenhagen is such a beautiful city and the people seemed really nice. Great food, good walking, and more. If you were going to be quarantined someplace, that was a great spot! Wonderful finds and yes, you were right to save them from the trash.

[@Thatsinteresting363]

What fun! Great finds and super thrifty ideas❤❤

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!! 😊

[@carriescostumescrochet]

Wow. Just Wow. I'm blown away by all the wonderful things you found. And wool. You found wool!!!!! I thought I was good purchasing most of my craft and sewing supplies from thrift store, but I must declare you the Thrift Hunting Queen. I wish we had that kind of recycling culture in Canada.

[@carriescostumescrochet]

Oh, and my best dumpster dive find was when I was living in Japan, about a week before I moved back to Canada someone had put a few traditional Japanese decorative dolls in the garbage nook for our apartment building. They were still in their glass cases (which were gross but had protected the dolls). I took one and gave another to a friend.

[@ShannonMakes]

@@carriescostumescrochet That sounds like a great find, and makes it seem like Apartment Building Garage Nooks are almost universally the place to look when one is going dumpster thrifting! I don't know about what part of Canada you're from, but in Montreal, I always make sure to take July 1 off, as that's our Moving Day, and the streets are absolutely chock-a-block with furniture and such that people leave behind!

[@LualaDy]

we do a similar thing here in france, the day before the big items garbage removal, people put stuff outside but there are a lot of people who drive by in vans to take things they can resell, it's a bit annoying.

[@jackiejames4551]

I walk a lot and on trash days I will often see things I think are to good to end up in the land fill, so I bring them home. I found all kinds of things,from furniture to clothes to decorative items, I've even found money that people have thrown away, mostly coins, but I found a book with paper money in it once. So I always check books now, even if I don't want the books. People throw away all kinds of things here. Love the happy corgi footage. Thanks for that.

[@ShannonMakes]

Oooh checking books is a good one. I often check pockets, but never thought to look in books! So much good stuff to be found in garbage piles!

[@jackiejames4551]

@@ShannonMakes my best find in a book was a postcard from the 1940's. I love old stuff and that postcard was so cool.

[@ShannonMakes]

@@jackiejames4551 oh that's so neat! I've never come across anything like that while dumpster diving, but the walls of my childhood house (built 1912) yielded.some interesting find in it's walls!

[@cindyerwin9086]

When someone looks at you unapprovingly it would behoove you to look them in the eye and explain yourself young lady. lol I think they would approve and admire as well as inspire, not just to have a conversation about waste but also a call to action.

[@hayley-rosesomerville4596]

Your pup is so adorable!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you! 😊

[@combatgirl38]

Once a dumpster-diver/curb-scorer, *Always* a dumpster-diver/curb-scorer!! The best place I've Ever lived for scoring "trash", out of the 8 different states and many more cities within that I've lived, was Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Slate sidewalks that felt like arrowroot/cornstarch or 'butta' under bare feet, and real-original to the town gas lamps that Disney has never stopped trying to buy from the town. No alleyways in super old East Coast towns like that, so it was curb-scoring. I was there 25 yrs ago and just in time for elders to give up their homes. Very sadly but goodly for me as a detour for their treasured belongings, there was a big flux in generational deaths with grandparents passing on and their kids tossing what didn't sell in the estate sales. I'm sure many had settled retirement homes for remaining parents too, before contending with 80-100 yrs of worldly possessions. Not only are antiques and vintage much more common out there as older settled states, but by the end of it the people handling the belongings were not about to worry about worth-especially if the home was also going up for sale as well. It was a unique experience living in an ancient town while this was going on! I was out there because I moved to San Francisco alone and ended up hating it due to it being massively gentrified with no rent control at break neck speed, while hundreds of people lived on the street. A Minneapolis friend that I met there in my hometown, called me in SF after he went back there to his hometown. Exactly as I described had gone on and he was living in his grandparent's empty Victorian while it was being renovated and invited me out. I lasted 2 months in SF and over 2 Years in NJ! But his mother was a wealthy psychiatrist and used to take us in her van on trash day because she loved "treasure hunting", as she called it. But usually we were on foot and the majority of the time we were working against Other wealthy ladies in mini vans who were out doing the same! So- long story long....You never "used to" trash scavenge. You either did or didn't because of worrying what others would think and chose to sacrifice the Awesomeness!! Thanks for the venture!

[@ShannonMakes]

Wow, what adventures! Makes me want to take a trip to Glen Ridge!! But it's true that, of all the cities and countries I've lived in, I've always found the sidewalks, alleys, and dumpsters brimming with useful items!

[@RebeccaTreeseed]

Yestetday I picked up 10 yards of a navy purple white modern print and 4 yards of garnet fabric. Plus two beautiful Japanese style bedspreads. One white bedspread. A haul. My best ever find was 6 feet of solid front cabinets, which I have here in this room.

[@mrdjunjlds3239]

Hi Shannon...support your channel 👍👍👍🤝🙏

[@800ST-moto]

I hope you still have that old sewing machine and typewriter! Fabulous pieces of machinery! (I have similar pieces! ) 😁

[@camille_la_chenille]

The number of treasures you find in dumpsters is astonishing! I wonder why people throw some perfectly usable things like candles or clothes... And I'd like so much to do something similar but, here in Swizerland, there are very strict rules about leaving stuff next to dumpsters and on the sidewalk so I can't do that. When I was little, there still were days of collecting heavy trash/furniture/miscelanous, and my grandparents salvaged the most adorable rocking horse for my cousins and I, and my mum found a whole bunch of tapes of a singer for children that I adored.

[@ShannonMakes]

See, that's so interesting, because I spent 6 months in Switzerland (the German-speaking region), and I found a surprising amount of things for free to pimp out my living situation while there! Admittedly not as much as Germany or Denmark, but still, a fair amount. I love that you have the memory of the salvaged rocking horse and the singer, that's so sweet!!

[@camille_la_chenille]

@@ShannonMakes I live in the French-speaking region and there are some significant differences between the two, or maybe it's just the rules in my own town, or the neighbourhood I live in...

[@ADayInTheLifeofLori]

Incredible finds!

[@elynamusy]

One of the best found I had was in Savoie in France when I was working there, I found a very big electric pot with the lead and knew I had to take it for camping and doing benevolant food stale. Was really useful for 3 years till one of the person at the association I was stoll it 🥲 PS: Sorry for the possible mistakes I'm French and still not as fluent as I want to be in English 🙏

[@asilverfoxintasmania9940]

BEST INTERLUDE EVA! ahem.. nice haul and I look forward to seeing what you do with some of those fabrics....

[@ShannonMakes]

Happy Corgi makes for the best interludes! Most of the fabrics will probably get used in mock-ups, unless I decide to do mid 16th century, then that floral print could probably pass as a Robe à la Française...?!

[@asilverfoxintasmania9940]

@@ShannonMakes mock ups is always a good thing! and Happy corgi footage makes for happy viewers! ;)

[@janeray-u8v]

Love it. I tie dye up cycled clothes. I have 2 rug looms , and sew.

[@ShannonMakes]

Amazing!!

[@jacquelinecasey1361]

That pup is so adorable!

[@ShannonMakes]

🐶🐶🐶🥰

[@dawnlindgron5570]

A woman of my heart ! Exactly what I do, love the hunt and giving somethings another chance at a new life ! Well done , do a follow up an what you have made some of the things into !!!

[@francinelessard2676]

I can’t believe what people throw away!!!😱 Wonderful!!!

[@ShannonMakes]

It's truly mind boggling... I have a couple more recent videos in the same theme - a few where I go around Montreal collecting garbage, and one where I take that garbage and build my entire sewing table out of it. Also my corgi fainting couch was like 95% recycled from a vintage sofa left on the side of the road in Copenhagen!

[@Ora_Lin]

This is the content I didn’t know I needed

[@ShannonMakes]

Haha! Glad to be of service 🤪

[@PaulaNorthway-cp9jw]

Just found your channel and subscribed. I am a maker, but I love that you recycle. And most of all you travel and bring Cannelle (sp?) with you even to Denmark. My brother lives or has lived in Denmark for over 50 years. Love your channel.

[@ShannonMakes]

Welcome aboard!

[@ragdollyally]

A woman after my own heart as we say in England! Yes!! Treasure hunting is SO satisfying!!! My entire fabric stash is from our local charity shop which is a last-call-before-landfill one, and I am currently in the middle of hand stitching a huge kawandi-style scraps quilt with every colour in it under the sun. The trouble is I find I outgrow my space quite quickly and find it hard to let go the least amazing finds as in MY imagination I’ll use it all - one day 😅

[@ShannonMakes]

Ahhh, I love that!! And I totally relate to that feeling, it can be SO hard to pass by things (especially free things! things that will be put in a landfill when they're still perfectly useable!!) but alas, the apartment space is limited 😭😭

[@beatrizmedina_mabe]

Wow, I found a soul mate. I'm doing that for decades.

[@ShannonMakes]

Rock on!

[@ColleenMarble]

Man, I'd love to see community recycling/giveaway centers in my area. So much gets thrown out. I've trash picked several things, but a designated spot would be great.

[@taracampbell3862]

You are my new favourite thing❤🎉❤

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you! 😃😃

[@gigiontube]

In my neighborhood we use BuyNothing app. I saw in one of your videos (one with making that gorgeous cape) you use that app to ask for scraps of fabrics, so you are familiar with the app. People “ASK” and people “GIVE” basically everything, from pieces of furniture, appliances to even a bag of opened potato chips. I admire what you are doing, but you have exceptional physical ability, not everyone is “apt” to such a task. In my area we have rats and raccoons, I would be terrified thinking that I might disturb a family of those in the dumpster and they might not like it. So, I strongly recommend to use the app and avoid diving into a dumpster 😉😛

[@ShannonMakes]

I highly recommend using whatever method of scavenging that you prefer and feel safe doing. Despite the thumbnail picture, very few dumpsters were actually climbed into for this video. In fact I don't think I actually climbed into a single one. And we don't have raccoons in Denmark. Nor do we have a Buy Nothing community (although we have some similar Facebook groups that I have used).

[@kirstenpaff8946]

I've never gone dumpster diving per say, but I did once find one of those big flat 18th century style hats in a pile of stuff on the sidewalk that clearly wasn't being used anymore.

[@ShannonMakes]

hey, that's a great find!! And even better that you didn't have to go diving in the trash for it! :-D

[@juliethorpe4497]

I love dumpster diving and skip. One persons trash is another persons treasure. Im in the UK x

[@ShannonMakes]

So true!

[@michelewarnecke4535]

I just found your channel and subscribed so I’m way late to the conversation. Does anybody remember the big Goodwill donation containers outside of various stores? My grandma lived and worked right next door to a corner market (literally 25 feet away), and they had a Goodwill donation container. My cousins and I would get in it and go through everything. Mostly clothes that we would play dress up with. I wish they still had them. Certainly made it easier to donate.

[@alanbirkner1958]

Hi, I've been looking in dumpsters since 1972. Shopping rummage sales, etc. since I was a kid. People in the US toss great stuff. Tina, Al's wife

[@brendatucker35]

WOW, wonderful finds!!! Wish NC, USA had better recycling, so many people don't recycle @ all...Our recycle can is fuller than our trash can, & I really compost.

[@MsAmberSunshine]

My best bring home from heavy trash pickup was a weathered yet very sturdy church pew found in upscale neighborhood.

[@ShannonMakes]

omg, I grew up with one of those as our cafe table benches, and I am currently looking for another for my kitchen! Such a good score!

[@sandiekaye5241]

You are fun Girlfriend! I cannot ignore beautiful furniture legs, fabric especially velvet, and useful household items! Thank you for your fun hunts. I subscribed right away.

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you so much!

[@dawsie]

Sometimes I see people throwing things that they could have sold, that makes me cry, specially last year after a good friend past away, her children and grand children rocked up, I was shocked at how much they took to our local tip, it was the first time I could not bring myself to go there, so much of it should have gone to our local Op-Shop/Thrift Store but it never got there. Now I see her once spotless garden in such a sorry state, she was so proud of her garden it was always trimmed and neat.

[@ShannonMakes]

Yes, it can be a real travesty how much people throw away 😢

[@dyanalayng5507]

Years ago I salvaged a wooden folding stool (with tattered canvas seat) off the curb & took it home, getting a few strange looks from people on the subway & GO train. But Canadians, so no comments. Best find was a clutch of plastic dress hangers with wide shoulders - perfect for drying tops. Found a wine box like yours & it works beautifully as a riser in my kitchen shelving. And last year, a table desk! And why does it always rain or snow on big garbage items? 😍 it does here in Canada too.

[@ShannonMakes]

Sounds like your a fellow upcycling-extraordinaire!! ❤️❤️

[@annafogli266]

Molto, molto, molto interessante...quanti tesori belli e utili hai salvato! È triste la realtà che tante cose preziose o in buono stato e magari ancora nuove vengano buttate via....per fortuna ci sono persone come noi (anch'io recupero e riciclo😃 quando posso😅). Bisogna imparare a comprare solo ciò che è necessario ed è molto conveniente e divertente visitare i mercatini dell'usato.

[@astridafklinteberg298]

Great job!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!!

[@galli0]

This reminded me I need to go down to the metal container to get the beaten copper sheets out that I saw two days ago..wonder if someone else might have snagged it or the container has been emptied

[@ShannonMakes]

Fingers crossed that they're still there!! 🤞🤞If there's one thing I've learned in my years of dumpster diving, it's that if you want it, you'd better grab it, cuz no guarantee it'll still be there later!

[@caylarivera2804]

Almost all of my furniture is side of the road or dumpster finds. Very much cheaper than buying everything new and it makes me feel so much better about my consumption 😊

[@ShannonMakes]

So true!

[@dawnjohnson8739]

That was so much fun! It’s great how your dog is all nice and calm all around, but when it’s playtime, she goes for it. So, no snow in Copenhagen. I had always imagined a lot of snow there, maybe because of that book from some time ago, Smila’s Sense of Snow. Then I looked on the map and realized where it didn’t snow there much. How cool is that. Also we lived in the Northern part of Germany for a while and though it was overcast and drizzling, it didn’t really snow.

[@ShannonMakes]

Well apparently it used to get snow more frequently, but in the last years its been rare in Copenhagen - the city is on the island of Zealand, and is therefore mostly surrounded by ocean, which has a moderating effect on the weather, plus the Gulf Stream carries some warm air too. It's incredibly dark, grey and wet most of the winter, with temperatures not going much below freezing.

[@agimagi2158]

Wow that clock is beautiful! Me and my mum once saw some crystal glasses next to a dumpster but I was like meh I don't want to carry them around while taking a walk, let's see if they are still there when we come back! Obviously they weren't... And I still feel very bad about that!

[@ShannonMakes]

Oh this is one rule I learned very fast (after a couple very similar experiences): if you really want it... if you will be bummed and reflect back on it if you don't end up with it... you GOTTA take it right away! Bummer about that crystal though, and I know *exactly* how you were feeling!

[@julielumsden5184]

Just started watching what do you make with the fabrics you find

[@IAmCraftingAgain]

We've cobbled together enough doors to replace our internal doors from skips locally, so we can have original doors reinstalled.My fave nightie, fave thermal top, our waste paper bins, over door hooks.

[@ShannonMakes]

Nice, I love that!! Another skip diver!

[@aquaaurora2747]

I know it’s an older video but more people should watch this. Did the clock move back over seas with you or find a new home in Denmark? My sewing room couch was out next to the dumpsters behind the thrift store and I got to take it home for free, a kind worker even put it up and tied it down to my car. I wish my country (US) was more strict/broad with their recycling some areas don’t do it or are like “sure you can recycle electronics …if you have to pay for the dumpster and get a permit to put it somewhere”. My area has recycling but doesn’t do anywhere near enough of it, way too many say food items are packaged in non recyclable (here at least) materials, so frustrating.

[@ShannonMakes]

No, the clock remained in Denmark... limited room in the suitcases, and corgi couch had first priority 🤣🤣 Our living room couch is, equally, from the side of the road. Actually pretty much all the furnishings for my apartment were free, and mostly salvaged from the trash/roadside (much to the dismay of some angry troll the other week who tried to claim that my entire house was furnished from China 🤔). Yea, recycling is very hit-or-miss, and I definitely have found that, pretty much universally around the countries I've been in, that "put it out on the side of the street" is the most reliable way to pass things on to others, due to the lack of a consistent recycling infrastructure. Even in Denmark, with their recycling centers, I still found so much good stuff in the trash/on the curb 😲

[@moonlightcrafter6299]

I'm always scavenging flower pots and nursery packs ro reuse in my own little greenhouse but the absolute best find was four of the $30 hanging baskets from a local nursery just lying alongside the road. We assume they fell off the truck when they navigated a sharp turn but nevertheless made excellent mother's day gifts at a time when we were too broke to buy anything other than a card. Also found a high dollar circular saw in a case in the middle of a freeway. However the owner showed up and after describing the saw I handed it back to him. He was so happy that his saw was safe and sound that he gave me $50 for rescuing it.

[@ShannonMakes]

Oooh, I do love a great roadside find! Also, it sounds like you'd enjoy my "greenhouse renovation on a budget" video which is very much an outlier on the channel, but still a great project, and done for almost $0!!

[@BethAge95]

Those are incredible finds!! Never really got into the dumpster diving since it's illegal in the countries I've lived in (Germany and Finland) and I shy away from the confrontation with residents, shop owners and the police. But I love going to the second hand store or recycling centre and get almost anything there from clothing, over sewing supplies to kitchen equipment.

[@ShannonMakes]

I have no such qualms, it's illegal in every country that I do it in too, but I honestly don't even care. People throw out perfectly good things, and it's just going in the landfill, so if I can give it a second life, I'm happy to try! Although agreed that second-hand and recycling centers are equally fun and satisfying!

[@BethAge95]

@@ShannonMakes I totally agree that I don't have any moral problems with it, I'm just too cowardly to face the police or otherwise angry people... Maybe one day I'll be brave enough.

[@glomontero6011]

I liked dumpster diving but I am way to short,old & disabled to keep at it but I can I still keep my eyes roaming for anything useful. My lates finds were some great plastic creates for my garden by the dumpsters of a restaurant , a pitchfork under a tree in a secluded parking spot that no one uses. and some storage square containers w lids. So just keep looking u will find something if u look.

[@ShannonMakes]

It's always worth the look!

[@anabelgarza1962]

FUN!

[@ShannonMakes]

very much so!

[@haakdraakje]

Such a cute doggie 😍

[@ShannonMakes]

Why thank you! She's pretty fantastic

[@marim0y]

I love this so much!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! If you want to see the Montreal version of this video from last summer, it's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2bHZK2oe8qpmLM

[@marim0y]

@@ShannonMakes thank you!

[@lynn858]

When I'm between gainful employment, I've repeatedly used dumpstering to help me pay the bills. It can take a couple weeks to flip some items through posting online, and you need the storage space to hold them - but a knowledge of what stuff is worth locally, and a willingness to write proper descriptions with measurements - and it can be profitable. At one point in my life, I took a long distance bus for an appointment in my old neighbourhood, with the expectation that I'd also be picking up a check, and that check would buy me my return ticket. (Cost, 3 hours min wage work at the time) Got there, the person who had the keys to the safe wasn't there. "We're not going to be able to give you your cheque today. Sorry. We'll pay to mail it expedited." Efff.... So I go around my old neighborhood, poking in the dumpsters that were most likely to contain the two things I knew I could flip immediately. (As opposed to my usual furniture - which can take a couple weeks, and requires dragging home and storing). Books, or DVDs. (The chances of finding alcohol bottles was slim, there's a number of regular pickers who come for those) Got lucky that day, and found about 20 lb of books, and a DVD that the used book store might pay for. Carried them the 15 blocks, and I earned JUST enough to cover my ticket and a slice of super cheap pizza. Then I got the phone call that the person had left the keys for the safe with someone else - and if I could come back - they'd get me my cheque. I wouldn't have been nearby still, had I not had to earn my ticket money. I've had cooler and better paid finds, but that was my most "arse-saving" one.

[@ShannonMakes]

Wow, what an epic story. I'm very glad you saved your arse that day!!

[@gabrielebruhl1218]

😀

[@GM-qq1wi]

Safety warning! Many dumpsters can not have their lids open from the inside, and truck drivers will not hear you scream over the noise of the machine. Many people have gone missing and been found compacted inside of garbage trucks or landfill.

[@ShannonMakes]

to which I say: today is a good day to die

[@GM-qq1wi]

@ShannonMakes I mean, okay, you do you; but your audience shouldn't get the impression that dumpster diving is a safe activity. Multiple people in my town have died this way, unaware of the risk involved.

[@ShannonMakes]

I'm not sure that you actually *watched* the video, because at no point was I ever climbing around in a dumpster, nor did I tell viewers that they should do so. In fact there were shockingly few *actual* dumpsters featured in this video, and the ones that did feature, were rummaged through from the outside.

[@GM-qq1wi]

Okay Becky, since you asked. I clicked on a video titled "Dumpster Diving Denmark: Vintage Treasures & Crafting Supplies Galore" in which you are seen in the thumbnail sitting in a dumpster. (aptly so, I might add) Also, I'm not sure if you're familiar with a woman in West Australia, who died after the lid of the bin fell on her while she was leaning in from the outside. Many of your commenters have shared their experience dumpster diving, to which you've left encouraging comments. You never once remarked about the rising statistic of people who die from doing so. I never accused you of anything, actually. If you read my previous comments, I was providing vital information that you omitted at risk to your audience, and your vile excuse for a response was to first mock me and then get defensive when I clock you for your dismissive response. BTW nice defence, "I never advocated for it technically, so my hands are clean." Nevermind the fact that your first instinct was to reply "to which I say: it's a good day to die" 🤢🤮 (inb4 you delete this thread, screen capped)

[@ShannonMakes]

LOL do whatever you want with your screen caps, I couldn't care less. I am not in the habit of deleting comments unless they're blatantly racist/homophobic/misogynistic, etc., and I stand by what I said. I treat my viewers as adults, and as such, trust them to make their own judgement calls. I make literal life-and-death decisions on a regular basis, and have no problem with any of my actions in the video, or I wouldn't have put them on the internet. 🥳🥳🥳 I do not live my life mediating my every action because one person had a freak accident - that life would not be worth living, because nobody would do anything ever. If others would like to be more cautious, and never approach dumpsters, I welcome them to do so.

[@MomAsol]

Great find

[@marinafisher3099]

❤🎉🎉🎉way to go Now you have a House👍👏👏👏👏💪👏🙏🙏🙏

[@Thenoobestgirl]

I was in Copenhagen a month ago and was wondering about the recycling scene there, so this was very interesting!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you! How did you like the city??

[@sweetymee]

I did not know we (Denmark) was the leading country in recycling😂 I do (vaguely) know that our bottle return system is fairly unique, but not sorting your trash seems so weird to me...

[@ShannonMakes]

The German pfand (which my autocorrect wants to keep changing to "panda") system is very similar, but I think less...effective? But yes, Denmark gets an A+ in recycling!

[@lovesakurasan]

@@ShannonMakes same with the dutch statiegeld (only works on plastic bottles) :(

[@EagleRue]

OMG what some wonderful hauls!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you!

[@LUCINDA2789]

❤

[@fannyduvillage]

Nice result!

[@ShannonMakes]

Thank you! 🥰

[@Nebulouslystarlight]

Brb planning to move to Denmark 😂😂😂😂 Coolest thing I ever got from the trash was my personality /j 😂😂 Really, I dunno. I think one of the coolest things I ever found in the trash was a 1921 Singer 101 treadle machine...that WORKED, and was only missing like, the foot and the paint was pretty much all stripped away and the desk had seen better days. But man, that was a DAY. I might've been like, 14 or 15?

[@ShannonMakes]

Oooh, that's pretty cool! Did you manage to get it back home somehow? I can't imagine you were driving at the age of 14.... I was lucky enough to find not one, but TWO nearly identical hand-crank Singers in the garbage in Denmark, and one of them (the one in better shape) was brought home in the front basket of my bike, and you can see it in the background of many of the videos filmed in my basement there in Denmark!

[@Nebulouslystarlight]

@@ShannonMakes I absolutely didn't drive at 14 😂 But I was with a friend, so we ran back to their house grabbed their little wagon and carefully wheeled it back to there. And so when my mom came to pick me up, she was delighted about my garbage find (she collects antique machines) and was happy to put it in the car to take home. And w o w people will throw away anything, won't they? 🥴 Thats definitely an amazing find!

[@ShannonMakes]

@@Nebulouslystarlight aww, ok, that's an adorable image. And yea, I can BET your mom was delighted!! What a score!

[@Sunsetluver1]

I spy a Singer 128 hand crank 👍🏼😍

[@ShannonMakes]

two of them, in fact, but one was in work order while the other very much was not 😭

[@Sunsetluver1]

@@ShannonMakes awwww, I have ,um more than one person needs and most are waiting to be restored. The vintage machines are best in my book. They’re built like tanks and sew beautifully.

[@mjlcreativestitchworkshop7292]

Bonjour, Canelle semble s'amuser beaucoup davec cette neige lol... est-ce que vous vivez dans deux appartements, un ici et un a montreal?sinon comment faites vous les transferts? Cannelle s'adapte bien avec ces voyages inter-continentales? Moi aussi je suis reconnu pour trouver des tresors au bord des routes ou dumpsters lol2 matelas neufs( dumpster d'un magasin de matelas lol) , sofa en cuir... et j'en passe lol... merci pour tes merveilleux videos!

[@ShannonMakes]

Nous voyage bcp pour le travail, et avec la pandémie, nous avons passé presque 3 ans là bas. Cannelle est très habituée à voyager, et elle s'adapte super bien. 😊🐕❤️

[@grimnirnacht]

It's crazy what people throw away

[@ShannonMakes]

Never fails to blow my mind!!

[@normagisle6056]

Hi shannon, About your rule for picking up discarded things. Goodwill end savers, etc. Have so much coming in To their locations that they pay millions of dollars for dump fees Each year. There's just too much Stuff in our culture. I say, Make good use of good stuff.

[@normagisle6056]

Hey, shannon, how did you get from Nova Scotia to Denmark.? I'm a little confused.

[@anabelgarza1962]

How do you disinfect yarn?😮

[@ShannonMakes]

You'd have to ask someone who bothers to do so 🤣