Searchingtoo's Blog

Believe it or not there are rules and etiquette for dumpster divers and curb shoppers

MSN money has the scoop here

Among the rules are:

• For starters, find out if it's legal in your town. "Technically it is theft," Sueann wrote in another post. But "justchickenfeed" at Blissfully Domestic said, "Dumpster-diving is legal is most U.S. cities and towns." Check with local authorities.

• Along those lines, do not go on private property or try to open Dumpsters that are locked.

• Take a friend who can help lift heavy stuff or hold the lid open while you look inside. Do not enter the Dumpster. It's fortunate that great stuff is often stacked outside. Picking through the goods outside of the bin is called "curb-shopping" or "curb-crawling."

• Wear gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket.

• Be quick. If your mission will take longer than two minutes, move on, Sueann wrote. Also, move on if someone tells you to leave.

• Dawn at Frugal For Life said, "Don't dive in business areas during business hours. Even though it may be legal in your area, it makes the business look bad and they may call the cops just to scare you off."

• Don't be territorial, Dawn added. Other divers might be looking for stuff you're not interested in.

I guess it is a way to keep it civil amongst the discarded treasure hunters.