Scavenging
Scavenging is the act of searching for and collecting usable items from waste, refuse, or abandoned sources. It is practiced by humans and by many animal species, and can serve both practical and economic purposes as well as ecological functions.
In the natural world, scavenging refers to feeding on dead animal or plant matter. Animals such as
Human scavenging includes informal activities like dumpster diving, salvage from construction sites, and salvaging materials from
In commerce and industry, scavenging also means salvaging reusable materials during demolition, process waste recovery, and
The practice raises environmental and social considerations: benefits include resource conservation and waste reduction; drawbacks include