The holiday season is over. That means dumpster diving season is here. And though most people see dumpster diving as a kind of harmless adventure shopping, a few folks have turned it into a career.
Ashely Willoughby (@trashtocashmom), a Massachusetts-based dumpster entrepreneur recently posted a TikTok in which she says she’s hit “The biggest jackpot of all.”
In-video text gives an idea that what we’re about to see is not normal: “Holy s— !!!! jackpot dumpster dive,” it reads.
Then she opens the gate in front of a purported T.J. Maxx dumpster that is overflowing with homewares. Pillows, blankets, and mugs are all visible in a quick glimpse. Then the camera cuts to the interior of Willoughby’s vehicle, and it is piled high with holiday-themed stuff. Items range from a Hello Kitty Christmas tree to about 15 gingerbread man cutting boards. And to be honest, the items are absolutely giving T.J. Maxx.
Waste Not Want Not
The vibe in the comments is divided, many people decry the rampant waste on display while simultaneously wanting to know Willoughby’s secrets. More than a few also ask about making purchases.
“It’s so disappointing they just throw it all away. They could at least donate it. I’m glad you found it!” viewer Nicole Lyla wrote.
Nancy Karina (@nancy.karina.82) asked, “What is the best time to go dumpster diving?”
Some seek to find a less wasteful solution. “If stores sold these things for 50c to $1 instead of throwing them away, they’d still be earning money. It must be some kind of tax loophole??,” offered TikTok_Tilly_Mint (@TikTok_Tilly_Mint).
But other users are deeply skeptical. “Fake video. why is the dumpster clean and how are the cups not broke. Did the workers put it in the dumpster one at a time carefully?” quizzed DanRussell5 (@danrussell5).
Too Good To Be True?
It might be tempting to think that Willoughby staged this whole scene. The goods are close to flawless, clearly brand new. And considering the TikTok has been watched over 480,000 times, there’s an audience for this content. There’s enough of an audience that’s she’s written a book about it. But at $17 per book, it’s clearly not a get-rich-quick scheme.
She’s also working in on an “Ask Me Anything” video about the nuances of dumpster spelunking. And she posts “diving expeditions” regularly enough that staging videos seems like it’d be more trouble than it’s worth.
And then there’s the T.J. Maxx Reddit thread.
In that forum, several users who say they’re current or former employees of T.J. Maxx or affiliated brands, emphasize the brand’s commitment to charity. “We donate what we can, and what we can’t goes in the trash compactor. Anything soft and not breakable gets donated,” said u/Cloudy_Knights.
While multiple commenters regret that anything has to go to waste, one user (u/silkyhazel47) even calls it “the most heartbreaking part of her job.”
So her haul seems pretty plausible.
Is It Legal?
In a subsequent TikTok, Willoughby lays out all of her T.J. Maxx finds, and she says it’s about $1,500 worth of goods. There are slippers, wine-bottle stoppers, mugs, socks, Hello Kitty-themed items, Christmas dish towels, and decorations. It looks like a stocking-stuffer mini-warehouse.
But a question lingers, because who doesn’t like free Grinch socks: How legal is it? According to WBZ NewRadio, in Massachusetts, dumpster diving is legal, but trespassing is not. So any potentially interested individuals are advised to “check their municipality’s rulebook before heading out for a haul.”
The next question that inevitably pops up: Is it safe? Judging from Willoughby’s own video’s it’s a fairly harmless activity. However, she clearly takes some precautions. In one video she’s using a grabber tool. Later in that same post she’s planning to clean up everything from her haul because it was wet.
Other things to consider if you’re wanting to test your own luck (call it basic diving etiquette):
- Don’t leave a mess behind.
- Be polite to anyone you encounter.
- Bring a towel or something to wipe your hands with.
- Consider a headlamp.
- Always share the treasure. For example, Willoughby says she often donates pet goods to animal shelters, and blankets to the unhoused.
If you’re curious, but not really wanting to commit to the deep dive, Willoughby’s got a short “tour” of her storage unit. It’s especially enlightening if you too have a soft spot for a Hello Kitty ceramic Christmas tree.
BroBible reached out to Ashely Willoughby via Instagram and TikTok direct message. We reached out to T.J. Maxx via their press email. We will update this story if either party gets back to us.