Understanding the local rules and regulations is the most important thing if you want to start dumpster diving. Starting this way will provide you with a much better experience and peace of mind. So, here we will cover everything about dumpster diving rules and regulations you need to follow in Tennessee.
If you plan to start dumpster diving to make a living, you will also learn some tips and information to help you improve.
Dumpster Diving in Tennessee
Tennessee is the state where dumpster diving is an attractive thing, considering the abundance of shopping centers. It has 40 shopping malls with thousands of residential places, making it highly popular among the dumpster diving states.
There are over 3900 stores here across different localities. So, it does not matter which neighborhood you visit for trash diving; you will find a lot of still in Tennessee.
It is, in fact, highly common in the affluent areas in Tennessee, including Collierville, Farragut, Germantown, Oak Holl, Belle Meade, Brentwood, Lookout Mountain, and Owasso. Apart from the residential units, the sources here are mainly toy stores, shopping complexes, and strip malls.
Thus, Tennessee ensures to provide a high-quality dumpster diving experience. However, your experience depends on the location and your goals for dumpster diving, i.e., whether you are planning to find stuff for personal use or want to earn.
Dumpster Diving Laws in Tennessee
Considering the dumpster diving laws in Tennessee, it is not prohibited or illegal in the state at all. However, the rules might differ for some municipalities, cities, or localities where you need to follow those rules; otherwise, you may be charged.
Your dumpster diving experience here in Tennessee can be affected by trash talking from people, including store employees or police.
So, to stay safe from all the fuss, it is necessary to pay attention to any signs present at the entrance before you enter any place with the intent of dumpster diving.
Private Property
Tennessee is a strict place when trespassing on someone else’s property, and if you are trespassing on private property, whether it is fenced or not, you may get trespassing charges if caught. Remember that accessing any dumpster on private property will be considered trespassing according to Tennessee laws.
One way to access such dumpsters is to ask for permission from the property owner before getting in.
Public Property
Things get much more comfortable on the public property as nothing prohibits you. Dumpsters on public property, like the pickup curbs, will be considered public property.
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Tennessee
No, it is not illegal by any rules in the whole Tennessee state, but there may be a few differences in some localities here. The more important thing when considering the illegal things here is trespassing because it is completely illegal in the whole state. These trespassing rules apply to any dumpsters in private business or residential property.
However, as soon as someone moves their trash from their private property to the public property, they give up on all the ownership rights on that trash. Such trash has become accessible and legal for all trash divers in Tennessee. When you are trying to approach any private property, make sure to look for “no trespassing signs”.
While the residential and other private properties may only get you charged, the private business properties can permanently ban you from their premises. If you are banned from a shopping mall’s premises, you may never be allowed to enter that place for whatever reasons.
Where do you need to avoid dumpster diving?
Although dumpster diving is not illegal, trespassing is illegal, and there are different charges with different effective punishments for you. Here are some examples of the places where you need to avoid dumpster diving:
- Gates
- Fences
- Any other property that you need to enter
However, if you still want to enter those places or dumpster dive near these places, then there is a solution. You will need licenses and permits to enter that property and dumpster dive there. For a good dumpster diving experience at private residential properties, you can personally ask for permission from the owners, and there will be no issues this way.
Make sure you do not spread any trash, create noise, or leave them with any other issues.
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Nashville Davidson?
No, it is not illegal in Nashville, Davidson. Dumpster diving is completely legal for public properties in the whole of Tennessee state, and Nashville Davidson follows the same laws.
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Memphis TN?
No, dumpster diving is legal in Memphis TN, and nothing prohibits it apart from the private property trespassing rules. So, be careful about those rules.
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Cookeville TN?
No, if you are in Cookeville, you can follow the Tennessee state laws that allow you to dumpster-dive on public properties. For private properties, you may need permission.
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Jackson TN?
No, it is allowed in Jackson, TN, and Jackson, TN, is a good place for dumpster diving for whatever you are doing it. Here you will always find the good stuff.
What Happens if You Get Caught Dumpster Diving in Tennessee?
If you are dumpster diving on personal property and got there through trespassing, you can get caught. The managers, store owners, employees, police, or property owners can catch you for the bad act, and the following are some charges that may be held against you for this act:
- Disorderly behavior charges
- Littering charges
- Illegal dumping charges
These charges depend highly on who caught you and the situation when you were caught. You may also be safe on private property where you do not see any signs to restrict trespassing.
Best Places to Go Dumpster Diving in Tennessee
Tennessee is a state with lots of malls and good residential areas, so the experience of dumpster diving here is unlike any other place. However, for higher efficiency, you need to visit the right places. Some of the places that will be a great choice to dumpster dive at include:
- The retail stores and grocery stores
- Residential garbage collection units
- Apartment complexes
- Toy stores and electronic stores
- Strip malls and shopping complexes, etc.
The dumpsters near these places can bring you good stuff.
How Much Can You Earn Monthly From Dumpster Diving in Tennessee?
You can earn around $750 weekly if you treat it as a side hustle. People are mainly attracted to dumpster diving and dumpster diving laws in Tennessee because of how much they can earn. However, many ignore that several things can affect the amount you earn from this activity.
You need to find stuff you can sell on other marketplaces for the highest profitability. Similarly, you cannot rely on it as your full-time profession, as surviving on it alone will not be easy. However, investing your time in it can leave you with $3000 monthly, which is decent for a side hustle. In that case, you may need to devote over 40 hours to dumpster diving weekly.
Remember that it is not a reliable earning option as some days you may find good stuff while others may go blank. Additionally, it is important to note that treating dumpster diving as your full-time earning solution requires dedication and effort.
It is because there are no fixed hours, and you must go dumpster diving late at night or early in the morning to find the good stuff.
Best Time to Dumpster Dive in Tennessee
When you are going to dumpster dive anywhere in Tennessee, you need to select the time carefully. No time of the day is illegal to dumpster dive, but depending on the time and divers out there, your collection experience may be disturbed.
Additionally, going during the early night can get you caught as there will be more public, and some policemen might also be dispatched to your location. So, the best time to dumpster dive here is early morning and late night.
Tips for Dumpster Diving in Tennessee
Everyone has different goals for dumpster diving. Some people do it to find food, while others find items for personal use. However, most people try to find stuff and sell that on different marketplaces and garage sales for profitability.
So, here are some tips that can make things much better for you:
- No matter what type of property(residential or commercial) it is if it is private property, you need to get permission from the owner; otherwise, you can get caught.
- While you are trash diving, stay low and silent as you do not want to attract many people to you. There might be some groups of divers who can disturb you.
- Make sure that you are not causing any littering or other issues near the dumpsters on public and private properties.
- You must not focus on one dumpster. Instead, try to cover as many as possible in a shorter time.
- Always carry a bag with you so you can securely bring things.
Following these tips will make dumpster diving safer and easier for you, no matter your goals.
Final Words
Dumpster diving is not illegal in Tennessee, but the rules may vary in its different localities. So, before you begin with trash diving, consider checking the local city or municipality rules.
For most cases, you will only need to follow trespassing rules for private properties, as there will be no other rules. The most important thing to consider is that your trash diving act must never disturb anyone.
