scavenge

Scavenge is a verb meaning to search for and collect items that have been discarded or overlooked, often with the aim of reuse, salvage, or acquisition of scarce resources. It can also refer to obtaining usable materials from waste, wreckage, or debris. The noun form scavenging is commonly used, and a person who scavenges is called a scavenger.

In ecology, scavenging describes the feeding behavior of animals that consume dead organisms or carrion. Notable scavengers include vultures, hyenas, certain insects, and microorganisms. Scavenging plays a key role in nutrient cycling, helps remove decaying matter from the environment, and can influence disease dynamics. Some scavengers are highly specialized, while others are opportunistic and rely on readily available carrion.

In human contexts, scavenging has varied historically and geographically. Urban scavenging involves collecting usable items from waste streams or refuse, sometimes as a means of livelihood. In disaster or conflict situations, scavenging may occur when supplies are scarce. Salvage operations recover metals, components, and other materials from wreckage, dumps, or abandoned structures. Legal and ethical considerations arise around property rights, safety, sanitation, and health risks associated with handling discarded materials.

In culture and media, scavenging appears as a common theme in stories, films, and video games, where characters search for resources to survive or progress. The term can carry positive connotations of resourcefulness and resilience or negative ones related to waste and poverty, depending on context.