Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 26/02) - Once you overcome any hang-ups you may have about using other people's cast-offs, the possibilities are endless.

As part of Ecology North's Earth Week festivities, a group of about a dozen dump novices and veterans spent part of Saturday afternoon on a guided tour of the graveyard of the material world.

The tour was led by dump devotee, geologist, prospector, fossil-expert, columnist and man-about-town Walt Humphries.

He started out by showing off some finds he had made that day -- a box of ceramic tiles (Whisper Grey) and a half-full gallon can of wood stain.

"It goes from dead puppies to skinned out carcasses of wolves to household furnishings to --

"Money?" asked one participant eagerly.

"Yes, that too."

Humphries' discussion of the dump was smattered with tales of special finds he and others had made, including a working cell phone (tucked into a cast-off car seat).

There are certain events in life and business that lead to salvage bonanzas.

Hotel-owners looking to spruce up their digs and room rates will often chuck all furnishings, functional or not.

Acrimonious divorces are also good for salvagers.

"I remember one day a woman showed up at the dump and she was throwing it all out -- the golf clubs, the power saws, the whole nine yards," Humphries recalled.

Dump etiquette is very straightforward, the first person to get their hands on an item owns it. Mindful of this, some salvagers will offer a hand to those off-loading prime salvage.

"I've never heard of any fist-fights over here, but there have been some verbal arguments over salvage," said Humphries.

Just now getting started, garage sale season is also a time when the pickings pick up. Typically, anything not sold ends up at the dump later in the day.

There is a snag to taking advantage of the world of opportunity the dump presents. Unless you're in good shape and really determined, you are going to need a vehicle to haul the big prizes home.

No problem. You can sometimes get one of those there too.

"Several people have got working cars from the dump. People who are leaving who know their old vehicle won't meet emission control standards in the south will sometimes just drive in and hand over their registration."

Automobiles, building materials, appliances, books, furniture, bikes -- this department store's got it all.