Is it Legal to Dumpster Dive?
One man's trash may be another man's treasure, but you should make sure you aren't breaking any laws when you go dumpster diving. Is there anything illegal about dumpster diving, anyway?
It depends.
Not as Simple As You'd Think
Dumpster diving may be legal depending on where you live and what state laws and local ordinances your city and state have passed with regards to dumpster diving.
The Supreme Court decision in California v Greenwood held that people have no expectation of privacy in the trash they've left outside in a public area. So, if you put your trash can out on the curb you cannot complain if someone looks through your garbage.
But it's possible that dumpster diving can violate local trespassing laws — especially if the dumpster is on private property. Before you go scavenging you should figure out if the dumpster is on public property or private property.
And dumpster diving might end up being a violation of privacy even without trespassing laws. Make sure you pay attention to your state and local laws to see how your municipality views garbage.
Sure, most of us would agree that looking through garbage isn't necessarily the most sanitary thing to do. But, despite its dirty (and oftentimes smelly) appearance, a garbage can contain a wealth of information about the person who dumped the waste. Discarded check stubs, bills with personal information, and other discarded financial items may make it easy for criminals to steal someone's identity. Identity theft is a main reason why many people dumpster dive, so be prepared to get dirty looks if you start rooting through people's trash.
Still, not everyone who goes dumpster diving is out to steal information. Some people legitimately enjoy going through garbage to find buried treasures. If you're one of these treasure-hunters, just be sure that it's legal to dumpster dive where you live, because if it's not you could be facing a visit from law enforcement.
If you are interested in looking for treasures buried in trash make sure you review your local dumpster diving laws first.
Related Resources:
- Dumpster Diving - Findlaw
- Tips to Help Protect Your Identity (FindLaw)
- Coupon Thief: Texas Woman Arrested for Stealing Coupons (FindLaw's Legally