Are you looking to start dumpster diving? Well, if you are in Vermont, it can be a good way to earn a little extra, as there are several locations with dumpsters to find a lot of stuff.
However, staying aware of the state and local laws is the most important thing you must consider.
This guide is all about this, as here you will learn about the laws along with some tips and tricks to become better at dumpster diving.
Dumpster Diving in Vermont
Vermont offers a rich dumpster diving experience as it houses rich neighborhoods and commercial areas. Some of its famous locations for dumpster diving include Charlotte, Shelburne, Norwich, Landgrove, Dorset, and Stowe. In Vermont, you will find 4 main commercial hubs that house 425 malls and stores for you to shop at.
Apart from the commercial areas, there are thousands of residential areas. Green Mountain State is among the most popular locations in the country for dumpster diving. With a diverse range of commercial and rich residential areas, you can find all sorts of stuff while dumpster diving in Vermont.
Dumpster Diving Laws in Vermont
You will never find any laws that prohibit dumpster diving in Vermont as a whole. However, these laws only allow you to dumpster diving while staying on public property. No rules allow diving into the dumpsters present on private properties. Doing so inside Vermont is considered trespassing, with strict charges against it.
It can also be called theft if you trespass and take their trash. Getting caught during dumpster diving inside Vermont will make you face criminal charges, including fines and time in jail. Below are the details about the trespassing rules in Vermont:
- 3 months in jail, a $500 fine, or both when you are caught trespassing
- 1 year in jail, a $500 fine, or both when you are caught trespassing in a gated, fenced, or locked building
- 3 years in jail, a $2000 fine, or both when you enter a dwelling without asking for the owner’s permission.
These rules are strictly followed, so the best way to stay safe is by asking for the owner’s permission with all due respect.
Is dumpster diving legal in Vermont?
Yes, it is legal in the entire state, and when you are in Vermont, you only need to look for the local city laws. While it is allowed in the state, the city laws for some cities or municipalities may change. Abiding by those rules is necessary as you can get in trouble otherwise.
Most of the time, dumpster diving is allowed in public areas. The issues will begin when you move toward the private properties.
Anything present on private property is also private property. If you access or enter that property even for dumpster diving purposes, you will be trespassing and welcoming legal criminal charges against yourself if caught. It implies both commercial and residential areas. So, if you must dive inside a dumpster present on private property, you must ask for the owner’s permission.
Getting their consent means that you will never face any issues. Another way to safely get any trash you want is by waiting for that trash to be moved from private property to public property. As soon as the owner does it, that trash will become public property, and the owner will lose any ownership rights.
When it comes to dumpster diving in public places, if it is allowed in your locality, there will be no issues. You need to stay away from the following activities:
- Littering
- Creating noise
- Causing disturbance in a calm place
It is a good idea to act confident when you are not doing anything wrong; otherwise, you may feel suspicious of the cops. Lastly, always check for fences, gates, locks, and signs that keep trespassers away, and stay away from properties with any of these things.
Is dumpster diving legal in Burlington, Vermont?
Yes, dumpster diving is allowed in public dumpsters and garbage collection areas in Burlington. However, you must not go into private properties.
Is dumpster diving legal in Essex, Vermont?
Yes, in Essex, no rules prohibit dumpster diving if you are staying away from private properties. Remember that the trespassing rules are strictly followed in Essex.
Is dumpster diving legal in South Burlington, Vermont?
Yes, public dumpster diving in South Burlington will have no issues. You must avoid doing bad activities, including disturbances, littering, and, most importantly, trespassing.
What are the consequences of getting caught while dumpster diving in Vermont?
If you are dumpster diving at a legal place and you are not causing any disturbance or littering, then you will never face any issues. However, if caught on private property, you may be fined for trespassing.
The consequences can include getting banned from visiting that residential or commercial area again. In the worst case, you can also get permanent bans from those places. So, the best and safest way to dumpster dive in Vermont is by following all the rules.
Best places for dumpster divers in Vermont
Roaming around Vermont, you will find a lot of dumpster diving spots. Selecting the right one is essential; the best places will be where you can find the most valuable trash. So, here is the list of the best places in Vermont that you may visit for a rich dumpster diving experience:
- Rich Neighborhoods
- Construction sites
- Grocery stores
- Apartment units
- Retail stores
- Hardware stores
- Toy shops and kids’ stores
The dumpsters near all these places will have higher chances of providing you with valuable stuff.
Can you earn well enough to make a living through dumpster diving in Vermont?
One of the many reasons dumpster diving attracts many people is its earning opportunities. Dumpster diving is better than many other jobs if we consider the earning changes and compare them with the salaries people make with other jobs. You can earn up to $3000 by taking dumpster diving as your part-time work.
However, if you invest more time and effort into it, you will earn more. With 8 hours a day of dumpster diving and working efficiently, you can earn up to $4000 a month, which can be higher than many other low-paying jobs. These earning figures can increase or decrease depending on several factors like the following:
- How efficiently are you going through the dumpsters?
- What are you picking up? Are you focused on stuff for selling or personal use?
- Are you focused on selecting the right locations?
- Do you visit the right location at the right time?
- Are you going for the right ways of selling the stuff you find?
Doing all of these in a way that you earn the maximum profit will result in higher earnings. Otherwise, you may not earn a lot with dumpster diving.
Best time to dumpster dive in Vermont
Diving into dumpsters as soon as the trash is thrown in them will be the best time. There are no hard and fast rules, but this may differ depending on the location you are visiting. For instance, in residential areas, going in the morning right before the trash collection truck arrives will be the best time. Visiting these areas at night can be a little risky.
Things are slightly different with the commercial areas as every store may have a different time to throw their trash out. So, track their timeline and visit the place accordingly.
Tips for dumpster diving in Vermont
You are doing something wrong if you cannot get the most out of your dumpster diving efforts. Here are some of the best tips that you can follow to get better dumpster diving results:
- Never waste too much time at one dumpster. You must go through every dumpster quickly without going through everything.
- Going with someone is much better than going alone. When two people are together, the time to search reduces, so you can visit more dumpsters in one trip.
- You must be well-equipped whenever going dumpster diving. Keeping things like a cutter, gloves, eye protection, a flashlight, and a reflective jacket will always be a great idea.
- Always stay focused on your main goal from dumpster diving. If you are looking for stuff to sell, choose the dumpsters wisely and only pick up stuff you may sell.
- If you find something valuable, list it online on different marketplaces, and don’t forget to add it to your garage sale.
- Always respect private property and never cause any disturbance.
Follow all these tips, and you will eventually get better at dumpster diving.
Final words
Dumpster diving with planning can make a huge difference in your earnings because you stay away from always wasters. Determining whether dumpster diving is legal in Vermont is also important, as you don’t want to get in trouble or get criminal offenses against you.
So, for the best experience, stay aware of the local rules and follow the tips above to improve.
