A WOMAN who scavenges in bins has revealed how she has taken home upwards of £80,000 worth of brand new goods for free.
Her impressive haul includes Dyson Airwraps, Calvin Klein outfits, and Apple items.
Content creator Ella Rose shares hauls that she picks up from the bins outside retail shops[/caption]
Ella managed to pick up a Dyson Airwrap, which usually retails for around £400[/caption]
What started as a curious teenage hobby for Ella Rose has transformed into an online phenomenon, captivating millions with her unique content about her finds.
At just 13 or 14 years old, Ella Rose, now 23, discovered a passion for uncovering discarded treasures.
Since then the Texas-based content creator has found a gold mine of items she has either sold, donated, or kept from shops such as Sephora and Victoria’s Secret.
Her top hauls from her daily – and sometimes nightly – trips behind stores include a £480 Dyson Airwrap salvaged from a Sephora dumpster, and a £400 pair of Valentino trainers from Saks.
“I started actually watching other creators dumpster dive on YouTube, and I asked my mum to take me to try it,” Ella said.
She explained that she “ended up really liking it” and a few years later, she began documenting her finds on her own YouTube channel.
“I just shared the content where I find things, just like how I got started watching it. A lot of people enjoyed it,” she said.
Over time, she expanded to TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms, amassing two million followers.
“A lot of supporters tell me they’ve tried dumpster diving because of my videos and found some really good stuff,” she said.
For others who can’t physically go out — whether due to illness or other circumstances—her videos offer a window into what stores throw away, she says.
“About a year ago, I was dumpster diving at Sephora and found a bag full of high-end makeup, perfumes, and even a Dyson Airwrap,” she said.
“That was crazy — probably one of my favorite and most expensive finds.”
“A couple of years ago at PetSmart, I found live fish, like goldfish, in the dumpster,” she recalled.
“They get shipment containers, and I guess they thought the fish were dead, so they threw the entire bag away.
“I just happened to check the bag, and they were still alive.”
Is dumpster diving legal in the UK?
Thinking of trying your luck rummaging through bins? Here’s what you need to know
Dumpster diving is not illegal in the UK as any rubbish isn’t considered private property.
You are able to dumpster dive if the bins are out in the open and on public land while not being locked.
However, you may be asked to move along.
Seasonal items, often thrown away after the festive period, have also provided opportunities for giving back.
“PetSmart throws away things like seasonal dog clothing, toys, and treats after Christmas,” she said.
“I feel like these could all be donated to animal shelters, but instead, they’re thrown away.
“At Five Below, I recently found a dumpster full of food that was not expired.
“Everything was labelled for Christmas and the expiration dates are valid through 2027.”
I also found a huge bag from a Nike store. There were a few items lightly damaged but the majority was able to be saved.
Ella Rose
Other notable discoveries include items from Victoria’s Secret and TK Maxx, such as name-brand clothing, lotions, and decorations.
“I’ve dumpster dived at Apple and found a few things in their trash,” she added.
“We had a tornado hit our area and ended up damaging a nearby mall and Saks threw away a lot of name brand and designer items that were ‘damaged’ in the storm.
“I also found a huge bag from a Nike store. There were a few items lightly damaged but the majority was able to be saved.”
Sometimes Ella sells £8,000 worth of items on her website. During slower months, she rakes in around £400.
While Ella keeps some items for herself, donations remain a big part of her mission, she said.
Ella regularly reclaims high-end beauty products, which she then sells on to her followers[/caption]
Ella revealed that she even rummages through the bins outside the Apple shop[/caption]
