Leonardo Urbano, a 30-year-old Sydney resident, turned trash into treasure, earning up to $100,000 Australian dollars (approximately 56 lakh) last year by scavenging through Sydney’s trash heaps. Urbano unearthed valuable items such as wads of cash, coffee makers, gold jewelry, and even Fendi bags, which he then sold for profit. His daily routine involved riding his bicycle or driving around Sydney after breakfast, exploring trash mounds for new finds. He described discovering mountains of discarded items, including fridges, wardrobes, and couches, with an abundance of perfectly good clothing.
One notable sale was a tiny Fendi purse, which Urbano sold for about $200. To ensure the authenticity of luxury items, he cross-referenced serial numbers on websites like Entropy and consulted friends who are high-end merchandisers. Urbano’s discoveries included over 50 television sets, 30 fridges, more than 20 washing machines, 50 computers/laptops, around 15 couches, and 50 vacuums.
Known as “The Trash Lawyer,” Urbano has been dumpster diving for four years, using his earnings to pay rent and sustain his livelihood. He advocates for the potential reuse and survival of discarded items, highlighting the immense waste generated in Australia. The country produced approximately 75.8 million tons of garbage in the fiscal year 2020–2021, with landfills receiving around 30% of this waste. Urbano’s story underscores the value that can be found in what others discard and the environmental impact of waste management.
