I rummage in BINS full time & made over £78k finding designer bags & GOLD…but they’re not the craziest things I’ve seen

10 months ago 7

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A MAN from Illinois who turned dumpster diving into his full-time job has shot to fame for his diving exploits.

Jonas Fernandez, 24, has revealed that he’s found plenty of clothes, a staggering amount of unopened electronics, toys, gold coins, jewelry, and even an Olympic medal.

A man who turned dumpster diving into his full-time career is earning tens of thousands[/caption]

Jonas claims that he has earned thousands from single hauls[/caption]

One of his biggest hauls was a bin filled to the brim with crisps[/caption]

Jonas told Jam Press that he has been selling some of his finds on Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

He said: “I have made easily over $100,000 (USD) (£78,000) from the items I’ve sold so far.

“Once I found a designer vintage bag and sold it for a couple of thousand dollars.

“I also gift the new items to family and friends, as well as give back to the community a lot and give away most of the stuff I find.”

Jonas said that he thrives off of finding brand new items, and knowing that he can use his chosen career to help those in need.

One of his top tips was to check behind big-name shops to see what they have thrown away.

Jonas added that he’s found plenty of clothes, a staggering amount of unopened electronics, toys, gold coins, jewelry, and even an Olympic medal.

He did caution against going alone, however, and said that you should be aware of your surroundings, go with a flashlight, and be prepared to jump into the dumpster.

In a post which has amassed 7.3 million views on TikTok, the 24-year-old flexed one of his biggest finds on his followers.

In the video, Jonas sits on top of a bin filled to the brim with bags of unopened crisps – before he grabs them and chucks them into his car.

Several thousand TikTok users have flocked to the comments, with many saying that they want to go dumpster diving themselves.

One commented: “Bruh I would fill the car till I couldn’t put anymore.”

Another added: “I’d drive around giving them out to homeless people it’s not much or the healthiest food but it’s something to help out.”

While a third said: “Love your videos. I miss dumpster diving nights but been too busy with work.”

Although the laws differ in each state, dumpster diving is not illegal in Illinois – as long as you’re not trespassing.

Jonas said: “Once trash is put outside, it becomes public domain and anyone can grab it.

“A lot of people think it’s neat being able to save and reuse items from the trash.

“I didn’t come from a wealthy family, so I know how it feels not to have everything – I try to give back as much as possible.”

Meanwhile, dumpster diving is also becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon in the UK.

The YouTube account Auditing Waste UK, has been highlighting just how bad waste is while saving himself thousands of pounds.

It has been estimated that 9.5 million tonnes of food is thrown away in the UK annually – this dumpster diver wants to highlight just how bad it is.

Taking to social media, he regularly shares the ‘rubbish’ he finds across different retailers in the UK – from basic food to kids’ toys, Nike clothing and even £200 perfume in Harrods.