Inside the Bizarre Business of a Nashville Entrepreneur Turning Trash Into Thousands of Dollars

Nashville entrepreneur Carter Stevens, 31, has turned other people's unwanted possessions into thousands of dollars by diving into dumpsters and reselling discarded goods.

The unusual hustle has helped him rebuild his finances after a period of homelessness and debt. Now, Stevens is trying to build a new career around finding value in what others throw away.

Turning Other People's Trash Into Treasure

Stevens' hauls have included a Gucci bag, BAPE sneakers, a Louis Vuitton button-up, and a 65-inch television. On one expedition, he found dresses hanging over a dumpster alongside a marble table and the huge TV. Before climbing in, he checks for cockroaches, one of the few things that can bring his dumpster-diving expeditions to a halt. He has also documented some of his finds on TikTok, giving his unusual side hustle an online audience.

Stevens' business taps into the sheer volume of goods Americans buy and eventually discard. Some of his finds are still in their original packaging, including a Simply Southern dress carrying its $59.99 price tag. He described his typical discoveries to The Washington Post as 'all the stuff we use to fill the void.'

How a Taste for Luxury Led to Debt and Homelessness

Raised in an affluent household, he developed a taste for designer clothes, expensive shoes, and cars. His father, Chris Stevens, is a successful music producer and five-time Grammy winner. After dropping out of college, Carter found success selling vintage clothing near Vanderbilt University.

However, his spending soon outpaced his income. He later acknowledged, 'I screwed myself.' His monthly outgoings eventually topped $15,000.

When his vintage business dwindled, his finances deteriorated. According to his account, he slept in his storage unit, stayed with his parents, and eventually spent three weeks living in a Nissan Sentra.

The Post also reported that Stevens first began taking too much Adderall before using too many other drugs. In 2021, he spent a week in rehab and eased off the narcotics. However, compulsive spending remained a struggle, with the urge to buy things proving difficult to shake. 'I just woke up itching for stuff,' he said.

When Rubbish Becomes Revenue

The turning point came in November 2025, after Stevens left a Goodwill store and noticed workers placing dozens of office chairs beside a dumpster outside a nearby warehouse. They were Steelcase chairs, which can sell for hundreds of dollars apiece. Stevens returned with a trailer and collected 190 chairs.

Within six weeks, he had sold all but 40 to liquidators and made roughly $17,000 in profit. The money allowed him to clear his credit card debt and repay the cousin who had helped him secure an apartment. He expanded his searches to warehouses, hotels, apartment buildings, and the mall, while also running a junk-removal operation.

His Next Hustle Is Far From the Dumpster

The work also carries risks. On one occasion, a security guard confronted him with a gun drawn. His father also worried about potential hazards, including dirty needles, chemical burns, and possible trespassing charges. Stevens nevertheless defended the work to his parents: 'I'm providing a service.'

Now, he is looking for a more sustainable path forward. The physically demanding work has left his back sore from lifting, and he senses that the lucrative finds may not last forever. With his savings nearing $12,000, he has begun exploring real estate wholesaling, using YouTube tutorials and advice from TikTokers and Redditors to learn the business. 'This is going to take a lot more work,' he told The Post.