Dumpster diving can be your way of making some extra income but it being legal in your locality matters the most. Being in New Mexico offers you a great opportunity of making a living through trash diving.
So, in this detailed guide, we will cover everything from the laws to tips and some additional facts you must follow when going dumpster diving. These may help you through your trash hunt in New Mexico.
Dumpster Diving in New Mexico
New Mexico may not be the wealthiest state, but it is known as the land of enchantment. Here you will find a total of 9 shopping malls and complexes with over 1130 stores. Along with these, there are some residential units where you can go for dumpster diving, like the following regions:
- Santa Fe
- Edgewood
- Corrales
- Rio Rancho
- Farmington
So, when you are going for dumpster diving here in New Mexico, you only need to spot the right location where you need to dive into dumpsters. You will find the right stuff for personal use in these locations, like food items and other stuff.
Similarly, diving in the dumpsters near electronics stores and such places may help you find some valuable gadget or part that you can easily upsell at some online marketplace or your garage sale.
Dumpster Diving laws in New Mexico
You will not find any dumpster diving laws in New Mexico state that prohibit it in the whole state. However, there might be some varying rules in municipalities and localities. The more important set of laws to be careful about includes trespassing laws.
These are strict, and you may have to face the consequences for the smallest of mistakes.
Trespassing in New Mexico is a criminal offense and entering private property without permission and you can be charged with a fine and jail time. In most cases, the laws of New Mexico make you subject to a fine of over $1000, at least with imprisonment in a county jail for less than a year.
Criminal trespassing charges include different conditions for entering a property with informed restricted access and one without informed restricted access. The same goes for the laws about the damage you do to a property.
Is dumpster diving illegal in New Mexico?
No, it is permitted in New Mexico, but there might be some local rules in different areas that you must stay aware of. So, dumpster diving being illegal depends on where you are dumpster diving. The most common condition where you will find it illegal is on private properties.
Whenever trash is present in a dumpster inside a private property, it is considered illegal to dive in that dumpster.
It is because of the trespassing and theft charges, and it does not matter if that private property is residential or commercial. In terms of these private property rules, if there is a sign prohibiting trespassing, it is illegal diving in the dumpster there.
Even if you must enter private property with no signs, but there are fences or gates, you are still going through illegal stuff that you must refrain from.
However, if you choose the dumpsters present at public places like the collection curbs, there will be no issues when you go there. In those areas, you still need to be careful about how you are diving.
You must stay low and silent all the time so nobody reports you for causing any disturbance. Additionally, there must be no littering done by you to stay safe from all the issues.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
No, there are no laws prohibiting dumpster diving in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The only things to worry about are trespassing rules and dumpsters on private properties.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Las Cruces, New Mexico?
No, it is completely legal, and, in some places, you can find good stuff in Las Cruces, New Mexico. However, concerning the local police department for local rules will be a better idea.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Rio Rancho, New Mexico?
No, it is not illegal to dumpster dive in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, but some trespassing laws may get you some trouble.
What happens if you get caught dumpster diving in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, there are the least chances you will get caught for dumpster diving. Instead, you may get caught for some related illegal activities. For example, dumpster diving is not illegal, but trespassing for dumpster diving will get you charged with theft and trespassing crimes.
If caught in residential areas, you will face criminal charges against you according to the dumpster diving laws in New Mexico. Things get a little harsh when it comes to commercial places, as they may charge you for the offense and ban you from the location as well.
Best places to go dumpster diving in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, you can get confused about where to start. It is because there are a lot of locations to go dumpster dive here. From this wide variety of locations, you can find a wide variety of things for personal usage and upselling across different marketplaces.
Here is a list of top dumpster diving spots,
- Construction sites
- Cafes and bakeries
- Garage sales
- Grocery stores
- Shopping malls
- Cosmetic stores, etc.
- Rich neighborhoods
With this wide range of locations, your chances of earning will increase.
How much can you earn on average with dumpster diving in New Mexico?
After dumpster diving laws in New Mexico, it is the hottest question. Dumpster diving can surely help you make a living, and it will be very easy for some people. When you are starting with it, there are a few things that will affect your earnings, including:
- The amount of time you plan to invest
- What type of stuff are you picking up
- How efficient are you at dumpster diving
- What locations are you picking up
- Are you selling things right away or polishing them up?
- How do you plan to sell the items you found while dumpster diving
If we consider the best-case scenario where you are taking dumpster diving as your part-time job, you can earn up to $3000 a month with dumpster diving. In the worst case, you can still make around $1000 with it, which may not be the best for some people.
However, if you plan to invest more time in dumpster diving, your chances of earning will also increase. If you put in 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, you can easily go up to $4000 in a good month.
Best time to dumpster dive in New Mexico
The time to go dumpster diving is one of the most influencing factors on how much you make through dumpster diving. For instance, if you are selecting a place where the trash is not fresh, most of the valuable items might already be picked up by other divers. So, you need to be very strategic with time.
For the residential areas, early morning is the best time when homes throw out their trash. For the commercial areas, you can visit late at night or early morning. In terms of laws, no laws prohibit dumpster diving at any time of the day in New Mexico.
Tips for Dumpster Diving in New Mexico
When you go dumpster diving, there could be a lot that goes wrong. Little amendments in your routine practices can solve the issue, and here are some tips you can follow to make those amendments.
- Never go dumpster dive without checking the local rules about the locality. Some localities keep changing rules, so a new place you may find attractive might have restricted dumpster diving.
- Never go without your tools, including a flashlight, a bag, a cutter, and a reflective jacket. It will help you be quick and safe.
- Regardless of the time of the day, you need to stay low and quiet and refrain from causing any littering.
- Be very careful about entering private property without permission, as that can get you jailed and fined.
- Pick your locations strategically and always visit a specific place according to the best time when the trash is fresh, as the chances of finding valuable stuff will be higher.
- Never waste a lot of time on a single dumpster and quickly search for it to move to another.
Follow these tips to ensure you are better than before when dumpster diving here in New Mexico.
Final Words
Everyone has different ideas when it comes to dumpster diving. So, if you are collecting the right stuff for selling, you can make a good income from dumpster diving alone.
Is dumpster diving illegal in New Mexico? No, there are no laws against it, but you need to be careful about trespassing and other local rules for a safer and more efficient experience.
