I have gotten some nice items from the trash before. I have gone dumpster diving a few times as well in the past, and gotten some nice information at the time, which I will not disclose here.
I have gotten working computer parts, NES and SNES games, as well as numerous other items that I can either sell, or do something with on my own, from people's trash.
I have no qualms about any of it, nor am I ashamed. If people are stupid enough to throw things away and not recycle them or otherwise, then it's fair play.