GoKawiilNashville man earns $140,000 a year reselling items found in dumpsters
Carter Stevens, 31, of Nashville began dumpster diving in March 2024 after falling about $12,000 into debt, scavenging near office parks and luxury condos for discarded goods. He cleans and resells finds like Persian rugs, iPads, West Elm furniture and samurai swords on eBay and Facebook Marketplace, generating roughly $140,000 in sales over a year, including $27,600 from 190 salvaged Steelcase office chairs.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Stevens' story highlights how much usable material is routinely discarded by businesses and residents, which he describes as 'unbelievable' waste. His acknowledgment that most income came from a few large hauls suggests such earnings may be difficult to replicate consistently, which is why he is reportedly exploring real estate wholesaling as a more stable income source.
- Stevens turned $12,000 in debt into roughly $140,000 in annual resale income through dumpster diving.
- His biggest single haul was 190 discarded Steelcase office chairs sold for $27,600.
- He's diversifying into real estate wholesaling, citing uncertainty about repeating such large finds.
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See Streamlight Pro-Tac Headlamp on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: entrepreneur.com — Jonathan Small, 2026-11-10
Published there as: “After Landing $12,000 in Debt, He Started Dumpster Diving. Now He Digs Up $140,000 in Treasure a Year.”
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