Dumpster diving in Montana can be a fun way to increase your earnings. However, it is not simple unless you know all the rules and tips to enhance efficiency.
To make sure your dumpster diving experience in Montana is fun, you must start by learning all the local rules. Additionally, knowing the tips for dumpster diving will make you more efficient.
Read on to learn everything about dumpster diving being legal and the best practices that you can follow.
Dumpster Diving in Montana
Montana may not be the richest state in the United States, but it is relatively famous for its dumpster diving opportunities. Montana is the state where you will find 5 shopping complexes housing 443 stores.
Along with the commercial areas, some residential areas, including wealthy neighborhoods, where you may find valuable stuff to sell on different marketplaces. Some localities in Montana where it would be worth it to dumpster dive include:
- Sidney
- Whitefish
- Belgrade
- Glendive
- Colstrip
You only need to look for the right locations to dumpster dive in these places. With the right places, your chances of earning will occur in Montana as a dumpster diver will significantly increase.
Dumpster Diving Laws in Montana
Although it is allowed in the whole state, with only a few localities prohibiting it, it does not mean you can dumpster dive anywhere. There are some strict rules that you must follow in Montana regarding the presence of dumpsters.
The dumpster you must approach on some private property may make you trespass, and trespassing is a criminal act in Montana that you may get criminally charged for. Trespassing rules in Montana include a fine of up to $500 and jail time for up to 6 months. In the worst case, you may get charged with both simultaneously.
In most cases, dumpster divers trespass knowingly, but in some cases, they trespass unknowingly. So, to stay safe from these unwanted situations, it is a good practice to always keep an eye out for
- Gates
- Fences
- Signs saying “no trespassing”
Keeping track of these will ensure you never accidentally dive into someone’s private dumpster. It is because if you do so, you will not only be trespassing, but you may also face theft charges.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Montana?
No, as a state, Montana does not prohibit dumpster diving, but the laws in different cities and localities may vary. So, the best you can do is to stay aware of the local laws of where you plan to dumpster dive. Something that Montana is particularly strict about is private property.
When someone has their trash in their dumpster on private property, it is their belonging.
So, nobody has the right to access that dumpster and dive into it. However, they only hold this right of ownership until they move their trash to public space for the collection. In that case, the trash is legal to be searched and picked up, but by no means are you allowed to create any littering or disturbance for the location and people nearby.
A good part here is that you will face no restrictions in searching and picking trash from the public garbage collecting units and pickup curbs.
What to do if you want to access trash on private property?
Do you want to dive into the dumpsters present on private property? Going in there without asking can get you in trouble. On the other hand, you always have the option to ask for permission from the owner or the person in-charge about visiting their dumpsters and picking up trash from them.
It will be the ideal way for you to enhance your experience as a dumpster diver by collecting trash before anyone else does. When you ask for permission, no gates, fences, or trespasser-prohibiting signs on their property will stop you from going in.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Missoula, Montana?
No, there are no laws to prohibit dumpster diving in Missoula. The only worry is going into private properties, which means you are trespassing.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Great Falls, Montana?
Yes, according to the municipality rules, it is prohibited to take anything from dumpsters, making it illegal in Great Falls.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Helena, Montana?
No, nothing prohibits you from dumpster diving inside Helena if you stay on public property and public dumpsters.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Billings, Montana?
Yes, it is illegal to dive in dumpsters here. Nobody is allowed to search inside dumpsters and pick stuff from them when they are placed for collection.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Bozeman, Montana?
No, it is allowed if it does not include any criminal trespassing acts. So, you are good to go on public properties.
What issues may you face after getting caught in Montana?
If someone catches you in Montana and you dumpster diving illegally, you will be in a lot of trouble. Dumpster diving illegally means you trespassed into someone’s personal property and started stealing things for their trash.
First, you will be criminally charged for the act, resulting in a fine and jail time, as stated above. Apart from that, you can be banned from that area, whether it is a residential or commercial area.
Best places for dumpster divers in Montana
Your experience as a dumpster diver matters greatly, depending on the locations you visit in Montana. Montana is full of locations where you can go to dumpster dive, and here is a list of the top options.”
- Construction sites
- Automobile stores
- Cosmetic shops
- Kids’ products and toys shops
- Electronics shops
- Hardware stores
- Montana garage sales
All these places will help you find stuff you can sell for a good amount.
What earning opportunities does Montana bring for dumpster divers?
Knowing that they can earn from dumpster diving is the most common reason why people are attracted to becoming dumpster divers. It may sound simple to find valuable items in the trash and upsell them.
However, the real experience is much different. Earning dumpster diving depends on the type of trash you find and the locations you visit.
Additionally, your earnings depend on the time you invest in dumpster diving. Say that you take it as your part-time source of earning, then you can make around $3000 a month.
Similarly, if you invest more time and take it as your full-time source of earning, you can earn over $4000 monthly. In this case, at least 8 hours a day, making 40 hours a week will be necessary.
Remember that your chances of earning are higher if you visit the best places at the best time. Similarly, not wasting a lot of time at one dumpster and collecting stuff only for selling will increase your earnings.
Best time to dumpster dive in Montana
In Montana, you can use dumpster diving for the whole day without any issues. You only need to make sure that you are following the timeline in a way that your chances of finding the best stuff increase. While you can visit the commercial areas during the whole day, residential units are not safe to go to during the night.
So, going there in the morning will be safer, and you may find more valuable stuff in the morning. Remember that no rules prohibit you from dumpster diving at any time, but you must consider your safety and efficacy.
Dumpster diving tips to follow in Montana
While you invest your time as a dumpster diver in Montana, there will be many things you might be doing wrong. Instead of letting those mistakes hinder your efficiency, you need to follow these tips to ensure that you get the best earning opportunities and experience as a dumpster diver.
Here are our top 5 Montana dumpster diving tips that you must follow:
- Respect the location where you are dumpster diving, and don’t create any disturbance or littering. These can get you in trouble.
- Always stay updated with your city or municipality laws. Even if it is legal in Montana state, dumpster diving may not be allowed in your city.
- When going to the dumpsters, stay prepared with the right tools, like a box cutter, scissors, gloves, and a bag to carry your findings.
- Don’t be impatient when selling stuff, as some items pay you better if you hold them for some time
- Never enter someone’s private property to dumpster dive, as you may face strict trespassing charges.
With these tips and tricks, you may improve your job.
Final words
Many people don’t know how well of an earning opportunity dumpster diving is. Similarly, many don’t know if it is illegal or not in their city. If you are planning to become a dumpster diver in Montana, you need to start by checking the local rules.
Afterward, you may benefit from all the tips and tricks shared here.
