Most people picture a landfill as the last stop for anything unwanted. Near Austin, Texas, there is a corner of one where that story takes a turn. Workers pull out furniture, tools, doors, mirrors and more before it gets buried, and anyone willing to drive through the gates can shop the rescued goods at bargain prices.
One shopper, @ciaracera, took a tour of this unusual resale center and showed what the aisles look like, how to find the entrance, and what kind of prices to expect.
View on Instagram
A thrift store at the dump
The tour starts with a simple claim: near Austin there is a secret thrift store hidden inside a landfill. The shopper explains how it works. Before the stuff gets thrown away, workers pull out anything they think people might buy. Because almost no one knows the place exists, she says, you can supposedly find some of the best stuff here.
Her lead came from someone she credits on screen, Zach, the founder of the Traditional Archery Club in Austin. That is a nice reminder that the best secondhand tips usually come from other people who shop and hang around in the same circles, not from a map app.
There is one catch she mentions with a laugh: it is cash only, and she showed up without any. If you are planning a trip, that is the first thing to sort out.
Finding the front gate
Getting there is half the adventure. She says it is a little tricky to reach because you drive straight in through the front gates of the landfill, run by Texas Disposal Systems, and keep to the right so you do not end up with the trucks. Garbage trucks rumble past in the mirror as you go, and the road eventually leads to a covered entrance marked as the Resale Center.
Her joke is that you keep right “lest they make you clock in hauling trash for the day.” It is worth following her advice and going slowly, because this is a working industrial site and not a typical retail parking lot.
What the aisles hold
Inside, the setup is a big open warehouse with tables, bins and shelves. She says the range is unlike anything else, and the pace of her walkthrough shows why. There are rows of chairs, a boxed portable turntable, a wooden wardrobe, a bin of lawnmowers and weed trimmers, shelves of DVDs and VHS tapes, and tennis rackets hanging on a fence.
She lists the categories as furniture, tools, appliances, media and architectural salvage, including old doors, screen doors and windows. Since it is literally from the dump, she says, everything is cheap.
Some of the prices she points out are the kind that make a thrifter stop mid-stride. Giant mirrors with blue tape labels are around twenty dollars. A painted wooden armoire is also twenty dollars, which prompts her on screen question, “Who throwing away whole armoirs??” She also finds an elaborate cat tree with a built in litter compartment and an electric bread maker.
Even the pricing board charms her. A handwritten sign for the clothing piles, with its own creative spelling, is the kind of detail that tells you this is a scrappy, community style operation and not a polished chain store.
How to shop a salvage style resale center
Places like this reward preparation. A few habits help whether you are in Texas or anywhere else that rescues items before disposal.
- Bring cash and small bills, since some small operations do not take cards.
- Wear closed toe shoes and bring work gloves, because bins and shelves can have sharp edges.
- Carry a tape measure so you know whether a wardrobe or mirror will fit your car and your wall.
- Bring a flashlight and a small outlet tester or extension cord to check that lamps and appliances actually power on.
- Pack blankets or straps for hauling large furniture home safely.
Checking furniture and salvage before you buy
Solid wood pieces are often worth rescuing, but look closely. Pull drawers out to check the joints, since dovetail corners are a common sign of better construction. Look under and behind for fine dust or small holes that suggest wood boring insects, and give any piece that smells musty a pass unless you are ready for a deep cleaning.
For mirrors, check the silvering at the edges. Dark spots creeping in from the frame can mean the backing is deteriorating. For old doors and windows, check for rot at the bottom edge and test hinges. Painted older doors may contain lead paint, so it is wise to use a test kit and take precautions before sanding.
Questions people ask about thrifting at a dump
Is the stuff really clean? Expect to clean almost everything. Items come out of a waste stream, so plan on wiping, washing and disinfecting before anything comes into your home.
Will I find real treasures? Possibly, but the honest appeal is value. Most finds are everyday items at low prices, with an occasional standout. The best approach is to go with an open mind and a rough list.
Can I resell what I find? Many resellers do well with tools, mirrors, furniture and media, but check the center’s own rules and your local regulations first.
The takeaway
Rescuing usable goods before they are buried is good for wallets and for the planet, and it makes for a great weekend hunt. If a resale center like this exists near you, bring cash, bring a measuring tape, and go with patience. The next piece you carry home may be one that nearly never made it off the truck.
Credit for the original post goes to @ciaracera on Instagram.
Leave a Reply