Woman Finds ‘Trash’ Worth Thousands After Garbage Picking in Wealthy Neighborhoods, Says She has ‘Zero Shame’ (Exclusive)

In under a year, Claudia von Mallinckrodt has turned curbside treasure hunting into must-watch online entertainment.

It all began in 2024, after she and her husband moved to the Chicago suburbs and were in the midst of furnishing their new house.

During the process, the 35-year-old thrifter kept spotting curbside gems in surrounding wealthy neighborhoods – and couldn’t resist hauling them home.

“My family was very wealthy at one point, but went through a series of hardships where we could not afford even food,” von Mallinckrodt tells PEOPLE exclusively. “That experience is what prompted me to notice how much beauty can still exist in the things others overlook.”

Since March 2025, the mother of two has fully leaned into the thrill, proving that one person’s trash really can be another’s treasure.

Now she dedicates one day a week to sifting through garbage in affluent areas and filming every surprising discovery.

“I go around anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours,” she explains. “I do not venture out far from my home, but I have a route that I typically drive.”

In her videos, von Mallinckrodt often dons a fun cap and sunglasses, ready to tackle the next neighborhood on her list.

Although she admits that in her early days she only went garbage picking after dark to stay incognito, she’s long since grown out of that habit – realizing there’s “zero shame” in what she does.

“I have learned that people are grateful to know their things are getting picked up versus going to the landfill,” she shares. “This is what brings me the confidence I have today!”

For those interested in garbage picking, von Mallinckrodt urges followers to learn the bulk-trash rules and regulations in their town and surrounding areas. “Some neighborhoods have strict guidelines around this,” she reveals.

By also keeping track of garbage pickup schedules, she manages to plan her scouting trips strategically.

“I slow down for everything and will only get out of the car if I see something that does not look like junk,” von Mallinckrodt says. “95% of the time, I get out of the car!”

Whatever she can find a place for in her home, she keeps, while everything else she rehomes to her followers for free. Since starting her Instagram and TikTok accounts under the handle @therichgoodwill, she has amassed over 700,000 followers.

So far, von Mallinckrodt says she has kept a handful of standout finds for her own house, including a West Elm chandelier hanging over the kitchen table, a $2,100 original painting in the dining room, and a $3,000 Williams Sonoma rug under her bed.

She’s also held on to plenty of kids’ toys and clothing, a fiddle-leaf fig plant, a gold mirror and three Christmas trees.

However, her most valuable high-end curb find to date was a $5,600 Restoration Hardware x Ben Soleimani rug that she gave to a follower for free.

“I hope people rethink what ‘trash’ actually is. Most things aren’t trash. They’re just unwanted. There’s a huge difference,” von Mallinckrodt emphasizes.

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When it comes to major fixer-uppers, von Mallinckrodt avoids bringing them home as she has little time for big projects as a mom with a full-time job.

However, if she thinks someone else can easily salvage an item, she’ll scoop it up without hesitation.

“I hate the idea of beautiful, well-made things ending up in a landfill. If something has life left in it, I want to give it a second chapter – whether that’s in my home or someone else’s,” von Mallinckrodt says.

“It feels good to save what would have been thrown away. I also like building a home full of meaning, not just purchases. There is always a story behind every item I pick off the curb.”

By sharing her finds online, von Mallinckrodt hopes that she can dismantle some of the misconceptions about garbage pickers and encourage people to think twice before adding something to their online shopping cart.

“For me, it’s smart, sustainable, and stylish. Why buy something new if you can get it for free on the curb?” she questions.

In a culture driven by constant consumerism, she urges followers to pause and recognize how easily certain items can be repurposed rather than dumped into landfills.

“When you see how much beautiful, functional, high-quality stuff gets tossed without a second thought, you realize how casual we’ve become about waste,” von Mallinckrodt tells PEOPLE. “It made me more intentional about what I buy, what I keep, and what I pass along.”