Dumpster diving in West Virginia can be equivalent to a treasure hunt for you if you successfully find the right stuff to sell and make money. However, you shouldn’t start right away.
The first important thing is to be careful about local and state laws. Secondly, there are some tips that you can follow to maximize earnings regarding the efforts and time you put in.
Read on to learn everything about Dumpster diving here, so you get a safe and profitable dumpster diving journey.
Dumpster Diving in West Virginia
No wonder West Virginia is among the USA’s most popular dumpster diving destinations. Not only is it among the richest states, but there are some top-notch shopping malls, commercial complexes, and rich residential areas where you can find valuable trash easily.
There are more than 950 stores with 8 commercial complexes where you can dumpster dive.
If you are looking to dumpster dive at the residential areas, here is a list of the best neighborhoods that you may visit:
- Dunbar
- Vienna
- South Charleston
- Bridgeport
- Hurricane
- Charles Town
- Weirton
You can find many sellable and personally consumable items with these many options in residential and commercial areas. Such items can help you increase your income and decrease your expenditures, offering you an intuitive experience.
Dumpster Diving Laws in West Virginia
While no specific state-level laws restrict you from dumpster diving inside West Virginia, going inside private properties for the same purpose can get you in trouble. West Virginia is a state where trespassing laws are strictly implemented, and you can be fined and sentenced to some prison time.
Below are the details about some trespassing criminal charges that owners of private property can get held against you if they catch you:
- The first offense is a misdemeanor, where you can be fined between $100 and $500.
- Second offense: a misdemeanor where you can be fined between $500 and $1000.
- Third offense: it is a misdemeanor where you can be fined between $1000 and $1500.
- Not leaving their property when asked or trespassing when stopped by a gate or a fence is a misdemeanor where you can be fined between $100 and $500, or jail time of up to 6 months or both.
Is dumpster diving illegal in West Virginia?
Dumpster diving is legal in West Virginia, but before you start, it will be very helpful to look at the local laws. It is because different cities and municipalities often change their laws regarding dumpster diving and its timing. So, checking the laws beforehand will keep you safe from any trouble.
Remember to stay off the private properties as you can get into a lot of trouble. You can either ask for the owner’s permission to dumpster dive in their private property or wait until they move their trash to public property.
How much can somebody earn by dumpster diving inside West Virginia?
As West Virginia is among the richest states, it offers good chances of earning. While you can get up to $3000 monthly in most other states with dumpster diving as a side hustle, here, you can earn up to $4000 monthly as a side hustle. Similarly, if you invest more time into it and take it as your full-time source of earning, you can earn up to $6500 or even more in a month.
Taking it as your full-time source of earnings, you will spend at least 8 hours daily, 5 days a week. On top of that, it is essential that you plan things ahead and only pick up items that you can sell. If you follow the wrong routine, your time and efforts will not be worth it.
Similarly, picking up stuff that you can consume will adversely affect your earnings. You may hardly find such things, and using them may not bring the best experience. So, whenever you start dumpster diving, always plan the dumpsters for your visit according to the stuff you plan to pick.
Best time to dumpster dive at West Virginia
The best time to dumpster dive here in West Virginia depends on the place that you are visiting. Although there are no restrictions on dumpster diving during any time of the day, visiting the residential areas at night will be risky, and you won’t find much good stuff there.
On the other hand, the best time for diving in commercial areas depends on the store you target. Some stores get their trash out as the store opens, while others do this at closing. So, track their time; that will be the best time for you to dumpster dive.
What type of dumpster diving experience does West Virginia offer you?
If you want to start as a dumpster diver, West Virginia will offer you an amazing experience. Considering it is among the top rich states in the whole USA, trash for many can be a treasure for you.
So, you just need to plan your dumpster diving route across the richest neighborhoods and top shopping malls, and you will surely find lots of stuff to pick from.
How to sell the stuff you find while dumpster diving inside West Virginia?
When you dumpster diving, finding the stuff you can sell is only half part of the process. The other half is more important, and it is also the difficult one if you don’t choose the right platforms. When it comes to selling, you may choose lots of different ways, including the following:
- Online marketplaces
- Garage sales
- Selling to your contacts
You can easily reach out to many customers in no time with these places. The best way is to try all three simultaneously. If you are inefficient with selling the stuff you find, your profits will be less, and you will gather piles of stuff that is yet to be sold.
Tips for Dumpster Divers in West Virginia
Even when you know everything about dumpster diving, you can lack some important things that will affect your efficiency as a diver. So, here are some tips you must follow for the best experience:
- Go with a friend to cover more dumpsters in less time.
- Don’t go into a dumpster in the hope of finding something good. You must go through a dumpster within a few minutes instead of wasting a long time.
- Plan your dumpster diving route and only follow that to save time and energy. It will also help you find the best stuff.
- Keeping some tools alongside, including scissors, a box cutter, and a flashlight, is very helpful.
- Wear clothes that can alert traffic, so you never get in an accident.
- Respect private properties and only go there with the owners’ consent.
The best part about dumpster diving is that you can do anything as long as it helps you and abides by the laws. So, see what increases your productivity and make that a part of your dumpster diving routine.
A complete guide on Dumpster Diving Tips that you never knew before
Final Words
Dumpster Diving can be fun or troublesome regarding how you follow the law. So, to safely earn a handsome amount through dumpster diving inside West Virginia, you must abide by all the local rules.
To further enhance your productivity, follow the dumpster diver tips and focus on the stuff you can easily sell.
