I am guilty of this scavenging as well. I throw nothing away that can be repaired or stripped for scrap. I frequently collect aluminium cans that they throw away at work and donate the garbage bags full of cans to these people.

I work at a big wholesale company in South Africa and kids as young as 6 can be seen rumaging through the dumpsters behind our warehouse. Using makeshift trolleys to haul their "loot" away and off to some scrap yard.

Fridays are usually when you see them the most. Hopefully one day we will all be financially equal, but then again, there will always be scavengers like them...and me.