The adage “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” is more than just a philosophical statement. It is put into action when people in Kansas City dig through the many dumpsters scattered throughout the city.
What someone discards because it is no longer useful to them may find a second life in the hands of someone else dumpster diving, provided they are willing to get a little dirty.
While the act may be good for the environment, is it legal? Here are Missouri’s dumpster diving laws.
Can I dumpster dive in Missouri?
There is no statewide law or statute stating whether you can or cannot dumpster dive in Missouri, and there are no local statutes in Kansas City municipalities prohibiting you from digging through trash. However, if you dive into the wrong bin, you could end up in trouble.
Missouri law prohibits residents from entering private property without permission, also known as trespassing. If you dive into a dumpster on private property without the owner’s permission and are caught, you may be charged with a class B misdemeanor.
Big John’s Rolloff Service, a Missouri-based dumpster rental company, stated in a blog post that if a dumpster is placed in an area that is not accessible to the public, such as behind a fence, the owner has a reasonable expectation of privacy, and anyone who digs through their trash may be violating the homeowner’s right to privacy.
Signs may also be placed around apartment complexes with dumpster bins stating that they are only for use by residents renting the property and that anyone found digging through the trash will be arrested.
If a dumpster is in a public area or trash bags are left on the curb, anyone is welcome to rummage through them as long as they do not violate city, county, or state ordinances.
A 1988 federal decision titled California v. Greenwood involving the Laguna Beach Police Department states that the Fourth Amendment “does not prohibit the warrantless search and seizure of garbage left for collection outside the curtilage of a home.”