When you hear about dumpster diving, it means that someone is digging through another person’s trash to look for the things they left behind. People do this because they’re looking for some items they can use or resell. There’s another reason that gets quite a bit more attention – stealing someone’s identity. It’s a quick way for thieves to strike.
If someone gets into your garbage, they might come away with enough personal facts to run some scams or commit fraud. A few scraps of paper can change everything. Once they pick up a few important pieces of information about you, it gets easier for them to learn more about your personal life. That’s why you can see different types of scams involving dumpster diving.
Consider everything you might still toss out without a second thought. The items with your driver’s license facts can create openings for someone looking to cause issues. Your social security number and date of birth are also risky to toss. Even papers with your handwritten signature can give others opportunities for fraud.
We all let our guard down. Old medical paperwork, bank statements and, documents showing your credit card or account numbers can be especially tempting targets.
Try to shred sensitive papers before you toss them in the trash – it helps keep your info safer.
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal?
You can just look through the trash that’s been left out in a public space. Once the garbage is out there, the person who threw it away has given up their ownership, so it’s now fair game for anyone. When someone leaves their trash up at the curb, they lose any expectation of privacy over what’s in those bags which means that the police can go through it without needing a warrant. There is no “reasonable expectation of privacy.”
If you want to stay away from anyone looking through your trash, you can try a different strategy for getting rid of it instead of just setting it out for collection.
Things work differently if a dumpster or trash bin is on private property or inside a closed-off area. If you try to go through garbage in those places, you could get charged with trespassing or even theft. Also, some cities or counties mark trash collection or processing places as off-limits for the public, so you should check the local laws before you try anything.
Even when it’s allowed to search through the trash, it’s still illegal to use someone’s private information you find there to commit a crime. If you steal someone’s identity or data, it’s also a criminal act.
If someone gets caught and convicted of identity theft, they can be looking at fines, jail time or both. They may also be ordered to pay the victim back for any losses (civil damages).
Should I Check My Local Laws for Garbage Ordinances?
Dumpster diving is allowed in every state as long as you’re not breaking any of the city or county laws or other local laws. Once a trash bag is out on the curb and waiting for the garbage truck, it’s considered fair game for anyone. At that point, the police, a neighbor, the garbage collectors or even a random passerby can sort through that trash if they want to.
You’ll just want to check your state and local laws before you start to dive. Look for the official state or county websites with some helpful links and then search for any laws about dumpster diving in your area. Try searching by your city or county too, since smaller communities also set their own codes.
The main guidelines about dumpster diving work in this way. Federal law doesn’t make dumpster diving illegal. But state, county, and city laws might do so. Restaurants or businesses put some extra laws in place. If you see warning signs posted or locks on a dumpster, don’t ignore them at all. That means you can’t dive there legally.
The dumpsters in shopping centers or malls are on private land, so you might find it illegal to dig through them. Always double-check before you start. Pay attention to your surroundings and always respect the private property around you.
Why Do People Dumpster Dive?
People dumpster dive for lots of different reasons. One common reason is to make some extra money. Sometimes, even if the local laws don’t allow it, people just go through the waste bins and trash looking for things that they can sell. You might also find some people earning a few extra dollars by collecting the useful items tossed out by others.
Food is another big reason. In developing countries, you won’t see good food thrown out unless it’s spoiled, since it’s harder to come by. But in places like the U.S., almost half of the food ends up wasted. The trash cans can hold a surprising amount of perfectly edible food that just didn’t get used. In some places, charities step in and collect the leftover food from stores or restaurants to help out the people in need.
Electronics still show up in dumpsters too. The old computers, phones, or other devices are easy to toss out because they get outdated fast, repairs can cost quite a bit, and maybe it’s just more convenient. Tech moves fast, doesn’t it? Sometimes the non-profit organizations or local schools can’t or won’t accept used electronics, so the owners just throw them away. The vendors could even get rid of new but unsold products that don’t have any defects.
Clothing is another thing that you’ll find in the dumpsters. The thrift stores refuse items they can’t resell cheaply. When the donated items don’t sell or they’re overstocked, the store doesn’t lose anything by tossing them out. That’s why you see clothing, appliances, or other things hit the dumpster after sitting around for a while.
Some of the waste bins hold recyclable metals and other materials that can be sold to the recycling centers. The scrap yards already pay for metals like steel or aluminum, so people can dig them out to make a bit of cash.
Then there are the empty cans and bottles. A few states and cities across the U.S. have a system where you can return these for a little money at the stores or recycling centers. The payout per item isn’t much. But it can add up if you collect them.
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Is Dumpster Diving Trespassing?
If you ever jump a fence, walk through an open gate, or just step onto private property in any way, you could be trespassing. Most of the stores also have back areas that count as private, even if they don’t have a barrier or a gate. Sometimes you’ll see that a store’s trash sits right on a city street.
You can’t ever go dumpster diving on private property unless the property owner says it’s okay. If you do it without any permission, you risk getting a ticket or, in some cases, even get yourself arrested.
You should take a good look for any signs that say the property is private or that warn people to stay out. Do you see one of them? You should treat it as a signal to move on and try somewhere else.
Is Dumpster Diving Disorderly Conduct?
Dumpster diving can sometimes count as disorderly conduct if you do it in a public place and someone complains or calls the police. Public places also draw more eyes than you’d expect. In those situations, the officers might still give you a warning, write you a ticket, or even arrest you if they decide that your behavior is out of line in public.
You could also get a fine for illegal dumping or littering if you make a mess while sorting through the trash or leave things scattered around.
Do Dumpster Diving Rules Apply to Recycling Bins?
In some of the states, you might see people going through dumpsters or recycling bins to find the cans and bottles that they can trade for cash. If you ever actually take the things out of the recycling bins, please keep in mind that this is seen as stealing and you could get a ticket, have to pay a fine, or even get arrested.
How Can I Protect Myself Against Dumpster Diving Crimes?
You should always try to shred or destroy anything that has your private or confidential fact, like your mail or magazines that display your name and address. You should set your trash out only when it’s needed and then bring your bins back in again once you can. You never know who might be watching. If you ever see anyone who’s acting suspicious in your neighborhood, you should report it.
Are There Resources for Business Owners?
You can choose to donate your unsold food instead of tossing it out. The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act completely covers you from any liability when you donate the food to a non-profit organization, even if that particular food is still close to its expiration date.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Help With Dumpster Diving Crimes?
If you’ve been charged with a crime because of dumpster diving, then you’ll probably just want to talk to a criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer can then also speak directly with the prosecution and try to find the best possible way forward for you.
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