One man’s trash truly is another man’s treasure, as demonstrated by Leonardo Urbano, a 30-year-old resident of Sydney who struck a “gold mine” in the city’s refuse. Last year, Urbano earned up to $100,000 Australian dollars (approximately 56 lakh) by scavenging through Sydney’s trash heaps for hidden valuables and selling them. His discoveries included wads of cash, coffee makers, gold jewelry, and even Fendi bags, according to reports.
Every morning after breakfast, Urbano would set out in his car or on his bicycle, scouring Sydney’s streets for piles of discarded items, unearthing new finds daily. “You could see mountains of stuff — like literally, mountains. And that’s when I find most of the stuff. That’s where the big items will be, like fridges and wardrobes and couches. My friends are shocked at how much good clothing, like perfect clothing, ends up in the trash,” he told CNBC Make It.
Urbano mentioned he earned about $200 from selling a small Fendi purse. He explained that he verifies the authenticity of luxury items by checking serial numbers on websites like Entropy and consulting friends who are high-end merchandisers.
Regarding the electronics he discovers, Urbano believes the large and heavy items are often discarded because they are too cumbersome to manage or transport.
What has Urbano found in the trash?
According to CNBC Make It, his collection includes over 50 television sets, 30 fridges, more than 20 washing machines, 50 computers/laptops, up to 15 couches, and 50 vacuums, among other items. Urbano refers to himself as “The Trash Lawyer” because he advocates for the potential of “trash” to be repurposed. He told CNBC that he has been dumpster diving for the past four years, using the money to pay his rent and support himself.
Australia generated about 75.8 million tons of waste in the fiscal year 2020–2021, according to the country’s latest biennial national waste report. This represents over a 3% increase from the 2018–2019 fiscal year, with around 30% of the waste ending up in landfills.