I consider myself an expert...
As an extremely broke college student, and even now as an extremely broke college dropout, I discovered the joys of dumpster diving in the smaller cities outside of St. Louis, MO. The things people throw away are shocking, if you know where to look. Some of my best finds include:

-Three computer chairs, one a leather executive style with naught but a small rip on the seat.
-A fine, burnt orange upholstered chair with one wonky leg (electrical tape fixed it right up).
-Five coffee/end tables (and counting...these are popular).
-A bar stool.
-A dozen yellow plastic ducks of normal size, and four that are quadruple the size of their brethren.
-An enormous, finely detailed dragon head mask made of latex (sadly ripped down the snout; it makes a good wall hanging though).
-A blonde curly wig.
-Last, and perhaps most oddly, a suitcase-style box with an "ACME Gas Mask" label, excellent condition. Sadly, no gas mask is inside.

Of course, I am one of those odd people who will also dumpster dive for food, and then eat it. My best edible finds include two industrial sized trash bags full of cereal, fifteen pounds of potatoes still in bags in one night, a case of salsa with only one jar busted, two cases of jarred chopped garlic, fifteen bags of baby spinach still in date, and enough cough drops of various brands and flavors to last me through twelve winters.
(NuclearMosquito, Fri 7 Nov 2008, 4:00, 7 replies)

What? Why would someone do that?
Tis a bit gross dude. :/
(British Steel was participating in awesomeness on, Fri 7 Nov 2008, 5:06, closed)

Scrubber!
;o)
(The Apeface Cherub is not a cunty-uber-cunt, Fri 7 Nov 2008, 7:51, closed)

Ewwwwwwwww!

( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 7 Nov 2008, 8:15, closed)

No it isn't!
Gross I mean, not if the bags are sealed. Indeed, here in the UK, supermarkets are now wise to the ways of "freegans" IE folk that dive the skips at the back of the supermarkets in search of free nosebag. Now most of 'em lock the skips, leaving perfectly edible food to rot in there. There are people starving in the world FFS....
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Fri 7 Nov 2008, 10:26, closed)

Exactly
If they're throwing it out due to legal issues (can't give it to local poor houses for fear of illness, etc.), why shouldn't those less fortunate retrieve it for themselves? Last month I couldn't even pay all the rent, much less purchase food, and those potatoes kept us full of warm, fresh food for a good while.
(NuclearMosquito, Sat 8 Nov 2008, 17:25, closed)

Bolt Cutters...
Some restaurants where I live do this - but they only use padlocks on chains. I've been tempted to use a good pair of bolt cutters, or a hacksaw, or a crowbar, just to prove a point, and have their secret special foods away.
Barstuds.
(aeon chicken Like the Millenium Falcon, only slower and noisier, Mon 10 Nov 2008, 1:38, closed)

All good,
useful stuff then.

One can never have too many coffee tables.
( Moey, Fri 7 Nov 2008, 10:49, closed)