31-year-old dumpster diver made $140,000 reselling trash

Key Points:

• Carter Stevens, a dumpster diver in Nashville, earned approximately $140,000 in sales from salvaging and reselling discarded items like Persian rugs, office chairs, and electronics between September 2025 and 2026, primarily through platforms such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
• Stevens began dumpster diving in March 2024 after struggling with addiction and financial instability, using the venture to pay off debt and build savings while minimizing expenses by sourcing packing materials from dumpsters.
• His biggest haul included nearly 200 Steelcase office chairs, which he sold for over $27,000, demonstrating the profitability of targeting office parks and luxury apartment complexes for valuable discarded goods.
• Despite his success, Stevens views dumpster diving as an unpredictable income source and is exploring more stable opportunities like real estate wholesaling, though he remains drawn to the thrill of finding valuable items in trash.
• Stevens' story highlights the significant waste in the U.S. and the entrepreneurial spirit behind turning discarded goods into a profitable business, while also reflecting his personal journey overcoming addiction and financial hardship.