Leonardo Urbano, a 30-year-old Sydney resident, hit a ‘gold mine’ in the city’s trash last year, earning up to 100,000 Australian dollars (approximately 56 lakh) by scavenging through Sydney’s trash heaps for undiscovered treasures and selling them. His discoveries included wads of cash, coffee makers, gold jewelry, and even a Fendi bag, according to reports.
After breakfast every morning, Urbano would drive his car or ride his bicycle through Sydney’s streets, actively searching for trash mounds and discovering something new each day. ‘You could see mountains of stuff — literally, mountains. That’s where I find most of the stuff. It’s where the big items like fridges, wardrobes, and couches are,’ he told CNBC Make It, noting how surprised his friends were by the amount of high-quality clothing discarded in the trash.
Urbano claimed he earned about $200 from selling a tiny Fendi purse. He stated that he identifies legitimate luxury items by comparing their serial numbers on websites like Entropy. Additionally, he consults with acquaintances who work as high-end merchandisers.
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Regarding the electronics he finds, Urbano speculates that people abandoned the large and heavy ones because they are too difficult to handle or carry.
Over the past four years, Urbano has amassed a collection that includes over 50 television sets, 30 fridges, more than 20 washing machines, over 50 computers and laptops, up to 15 couches, and 50 vacuums, among other items. He refers to himself as “The Trash Lawyer” because he champions the value of discarded items. Urbano told CNBC that he has supported himself by dumpster diving, using the proceeds to pay rent and sustain his livelihood.
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