Australia's Channel 9 News reported on July 30 that when Leonardo Urbano rode his bicycle through the streets of central Sydney, he often noticed furniture and clothes piled up on the sidewalks waiting to be cleaned up by the municipality, so he collected the "garbage" and sold it through social media platforms to make money.
Urbano, 30, first came to Australia from Italy a few years ago and has been commuting between the two countries ever since. Every time he returns to Australia, he needs to rearrange his apartment.
"I always start from scratch and buy beds and sofas, usually second-hand. It was painful to spend money and when I left, I had to sell the items. Take a look around on a bike and there will always be something to throw away on the streets. So I started rummaging and found a lot of interesting things. ”
Initially, it was just for emergencies, but it soon became a hobby and eventually developed into a full-time job. Last year, he earned $66,000 from the job.
(Photo source: Australian Channel 9 News)
Urbano said he frequents affluent areas such as Bondi, Double Bay and Paddington, where he finds thousands of discarded luxury goods and high-quality items on the roadside.
One of his most impressive discoveries was a famous nude painting by Archibald Award finalist Dapeng Liu, worth around $3,800, which was picked up on a rainy afternoon. In addition to the painting, he has found Burberry and Armani clothing, Apple and Dyson products, and an antique glass piece worth nearly $2,000 online.
He also unearthed relics from the past, including letters from the 1800s and an old Italy coffee machine from the 50s.
(Photo source: Australian Channel 9 News)
"The first time you find a ring with a gemstone or some gold, it's really adrenaline-pumping, it's like Indiana Jones, discovering some ancient treasure."
For items that are not kept, Urbano sells them on Facebook Marketplace or gives them to friends and family. He also uses online tutorials to repair and clean items that need minor repairs.
"It's a very simple way to make money. At first, I didn't know how to take apart a TV at all, but after doing it a few times, now I know. Sometimes, you'll find that a chair just needs new screws to get back in use. ”
Urbano documents his findings on social media and communicates the environmental philosophy of "reduce, reuse, recycle". Although he is currently travelling overseas, he said he will return to Sydney to continue his search for more treasure in the trash.
"No matter where I am in the world, this is what I do all the time."