Hmm. As a kid we hit major bakeries and would get barrels of older baked goods, mostly in the cellophane, and feed them to our pigs. If something looked and felt good and was in the wrapper i had no problem withholding it from the piggies. (Mom wasn't big on buying donuts or breakfast rolls or other sweets) Ditto produce, unwrapped. I don't shop the dumpsters for food now, but have no problem picking up something i can use from the curb. Don't care for waste. From our apartment dumpsters i've pulled several vacuums (minor repair - like a belt - needed), cook and dishware, microwaves, coffeemakers, rugs, old framed pictures, and clothing and towels and such by the bagful. Our washing machine works just fine, and if i chose not to use it and no one else wants it it goes to Goodwill. Win-win-win - no excess garbage charge for me, tenants have more room to toss more stuff, dump doesn't get filled quite as fast, and i don't spend money when there is no need.
Just Saturday our apartment cleaner needed rags - i pulled 4 big bath towels from a dumpster, handed her 2 to cut up, the other 2 went in the wash and one is on my towel rack now.
Paper towels - Pfft! eat any amount of take out and you get overloaded with napkins....