My sims were created about a week early, and don't have Freegan, so that's probably why they have a harder time finding usable stuff. If it's an appliance, electronic, or plumbing, it's broken and or dirty, but can be fixed and used. My sims' TV and sink came out of the trash, but most other stuff I don't need/already have and I sell it. They've started a garden, and their excess produce is what goes into the shredder for bits and pieces. The last morning before I knocked off last night, one of them had a heck of a streak- a toilet, a bathtub, a TV, and a coffee table if I remember right. The TV was the big curved one too, very expensive.