39-Year-old worked 90 hours a week but could barely pay the bills. Now he makes £50,000 collecting from dumpster

What started as a desperate way to save money has turned into an unusual full-time income for a 39-year-old man in England. Amir Jardan began searching through discarded items outside shops while working long hours as a fire alarm technician. Today, he earns around £50,000 ($67,711) a year from the same activity. His story shows how one person's waste can become another person's source of income.

He Worked 90 Hours A Week To Pay The Bills

Jardan, who lives in Dorchester, England, was working around 90 hours a week when he and his wife, Ruth, were struggling to cover their expenses. In 2023, he began looking through discarded goods as a way to save money. One of his early finds came outside a furniture store in Southampton. He spotted a discarded wardrobe with a few missing screws. While taking it away, he saw another customer leaving the store with a brand-new version of the same item. Jardan later discovered that the new wardrobe was worth around £330. That moment helped him see that some of the items being thrown away still had real value.

From Rubbish To Resale

Jardan and Ruth began collecting items, repairing them and selling some of them. They also started documenting their experiences on their YouTube channel, “Couple of Dumpsters.” The finds have included surprisingly valuable products. According to Reuters, Jardan has recovered a laptop worth about £1,000 and a designer bag worth around £200. He now spends at least one day a week dumpster diving and earns approximately £50,000 annually from the activity. A separate report by The Sun has also highlighted how dumpster divers have found designer bags, jewellery, furniture and expensive household products in discarded goods, showing how much usable material can end up in rubbish.

They Rarely Buy New Furniture

The unusual lifestyle has also changed how the family shops. Much of Jardan's furniture and home decoration has come from items that other people discarded. Instead of immediately buying something new, the couple looks at whether an old item can be repaired or reused. The activity has also taught Jardan practical skills, including repairing electronics, fixing clothes and reusing materials. He told Reuters that the amount they have recovered over three years could “re-clothe, feed probably over 10,000 people.”

Not Everything Goes Up For Sale

Making money is not the only reason the couple continues dumpster diving. Jardan and Ruth donate many of the items they find, including food, clothes and other useful supplies. Some goods go to local people and community groups rather than being resold. The couple says the experience has also made them more aware of how much perfectly usable material is thrown away.

Why Dumpster Diving Is Becoming A Side Hustle

Jardan's story comes as some younger people look for alternative ways to save or earn money. Reuters cited a survey that found 31% of Gen Z and millennials had tried dumpster diving, with many saying saving money was the main reason. Financial planner Roger Ma, however, warned that people should consider whether the time spent on a side hustle could be better used to develop their main career. There are also legal issues to consider. Rules around searching bins vary, and entering private property or accessing restricted containers can create trespassing problems.

From Financial Pressure To A Different Life

For Jardan, dumpster diving eventually became much more than a way to make extra money. After leaving his old job, he said he felt “a weight lifted”, giving him more time with his wife and daughter. His story is a reminder that value is not always where people expect to find it. For some, an overflowing bin may be rubbish. For Jardan, it became a business, a way to reduce waste and, eventually, a completely different way of living.