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NYC Mom Finds $30K in Luxury Items Through Trash Diving and Community Sharing

Ariana Rodriguez blends sustainability, philanthropy, and resale by recovering high-value items from urban waste while advocating for waste reduction.

The woman found a Sohmer & Co piano that she estimates could be worth $10,000.
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Overview

  • Ariana Rodriguez, a 35-year-old mother of three, has recovered over $30,000 worth of luxury goods and household items in the past six months through dumpster diving.
  • Her finds include high-value items like a Sohmer & Co piano valued up to $10,000, a vintage Burberry coat, and Prada shoes.
  • Rodriguez donates non-perishable items, clothing, and blankets to her local church and resells select treasures through her vintage business.
  • Her efforts aim to reduce landfill waste, destigmatize trash diving, and inspire others to embrace resourcefulness and sustainability.
  • Despite criticism over hygiene concerns, Rodriguez defends her practice as a response to overconsumption and wastefulness.