A TikTok video from a dumpster diver at TJ Maxx is raising an uncomfortable question of what should happen to unsold store merchandise that still appears usable.
That conversation intensified after the footage showed a chair that seemed salvageable at first, only to turn out to be slashed, with other apparently usable goods discarded nearby.
Here's what to know
While searching a TJ Maxx dumpster in a TikTok video, dumpster-diving creator GlamourDDive (@glamourddive) found a chair that initially looked intact, only to realize it had been intentionally damaged.
@glamourddive Wait until you see it 😭 #dumpster #dumpsterdiving #tjmaxx #sad #insane ♬ original sound - GlamourDDive
"Oh, my god, they destroyed it," the creator reacted. "I thought it was okay, but look what they did. That's so sad. It would've been beautiful."
The dumpster also appeared to have a sanitation problem, as the creator noticed ants and linked them to discarded candy.
Other items within a bag inside a nearby dumpster appeared far less damaged. The haul included a blanket, jewelry, purses, a hairbrush, a shower caddy, and a bag containing children's accessories.
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While some items may have been unsellable for reasons the video doesn't show, others looked untouched, like a shower caddy and a food drawer the creator said was "literally brand new."
Commenters treated the discovery as part of a broader pattern.
"I had a tiny but fun find at 5below today !!" a commenter wrote alongside a photo of some foot soak and a toy car.
More background
A ruined chair sitting next to seemingly usable accessories, blankets, and storage items points to a much larger problem with how easily products can move from store shelf to landfill.
The consequences go beyond the cost of the merchandise itself. When usable goods are trashed, the materials, energy, packaging, and labor that went into making and transporting them are wasted too.
In this case, several of the discarded items also appeared to be plastic-heavy accessories or household goods, the kinds of products that can linger in the environment for a long time after disposal.
Once food or candy waste gets mixed in, products that might have been recoverable can become far less safe or practical to handle.
"Absolutely disgusting the waste," a commenter wrote.
What can be done?
Dumpster-diving is one way to salvage a lot of this waste, but it's important to do it safely and legally.
In the comments, viewers advised GlamourDDive to wear gloves, which is a smart way to protect your hands. There was also concern for the creator's safety when it came to getting in and out, as well as getting caught.
Along those lines, it's important to verify you are allowed to be there and make sure you have a plan for getting in and out. Bringing a flashlight is another smart move to ensure that there aren't any surprises far worse than a cut-up chair in store.
Where can I learn more?
This is far from the first time a dumpster diver has found both usable and trashed items seemingly on their way to the landfill.
• At a thrift store, a passerby found a trashed bag of "junk" jewelry left unchecked.
• A HomeGoods dumpster dive revealed discarded merchandise still usable despite heading for the landfill.
• Outside a retail store, divers recovered brand-new items trashed despite their apparently usable condition.
• At Steve Madden, divers uncovered sneakers in garbage bins that still had value.
• A store tossed Stanley cups with high-end products trashed and destroyed, prompting salvage questions.
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