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Fellow sustainablogger Robin Shreeves recently wrote a great and helpful post — Your Trash Just Doesn’t Disappear, Stupid! (Or How To Make Sure Useful Things Stay Out of Landfills) — that touches on a bit of a phenomenon that piques my interest: mongoing, freeganism, dumpster diving.

The term “dumpster diving” probably conjures certain derogatory images: “bums,” lowlife dregs of society sifting through mostly rotten morsels of discarded food for sustenance.

Pushing aside such an unfortunate view of human beings living, hopefully only temporarily, in such unfortunate circumstances, let’s look at what dumpster diving has become: environmentally friendly, if not downright urban chic.

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Most wouldn’t flinch at the idea of buying a used car, but the thought of a used computer sends them squirming. The tech industry tries their hardest to keep it that way: they advertise new products in such a way to render the previous models perceptually obsolete; they block even the simplest hardware upgrades; and they sell bottom-of-the-line models that simply break within a couple years.

This shouldn’t scare you away from a used computer purchase, but know that they are imperfect machines; some research, determination, and basic knowledge is required. To make this list, I used both my own experience along with some tips from Peter Montesano of Peter’s PC Repair, one of the most highly regarded repair shops in San Francisco.

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Unfortunately, well-loved jeans don’t age gracefully. The culprit: holes in the knees, pockets, or back. If your favorite jeans start to look “holier than thou,” don’t despair.

With a needle, some thread, and a little love, you can turn dying jeans into designer jeans. (DIY difficulty level: Easy)

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It turns out that wise use of resources is a hallmark of Amish quilts even beyond avoidance of applique. The Quilter’s Ultimate Visual Guide has this to say about Amish quilts:

Most quilts contain bits of fabric left over after dresses and shirts have been made for the family [...] Mitered borders are rarely used, since they require more fabric. In keeping true to their faith, the quilts the Amish make are simple in design and fulfill a utilitarian need of providing warmth.

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Well-made items are usually sturdier, more durable and will stand up over time. Often for just a few dollars more, you can buy a better quality item. However, just because something is more expensive doesn’t mean it is higher quality. Some things are simply overpriced.

You can avoid retail prices on many things by buying items on sale, or shopping at wholesale or outlet stores. You might also be able to find things at second-hand stores, antique shops or garage sales. You can also save money on quality by doing a little research before you buy to decide what will fit best with your lifestyle, and where you can get what you need at the best value.

You can also see about extending the life of your things you already own by getting them repaired or refurbished. Depending on what it is, this can be cheaper than buying new, and you don’t have to worry about disposal of the old item.

Amy says: I have this pair of shoes that I love, which I completely wore out. Instead of tossing them in the garbage, I took them down the street to the shoe repairman who fixed them up good as new for just twenty bucks.