Dirty Facts About “Dumpster Diving” In Texas

We used to think that people that riffled through dumpsters, were down and out. Looking for scraps of food, not an item they could repurpose or sell.

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In our current throw-away society, these people have drastically changed their demographics. Some people have turned dumpster diving into a hobby, and have reported big scores looking through what we have discarded.

Now that people with similar interests can engage and share information almost instantaneously, dumpster diving has hit maximum capacity.  There are Facebook groups, and influencers to follow on YouTube and TikTok.

It Is Legal To Dumpster Dive In Texas On Public Property

This entire subculture has not missed Texas, especially due to it being completely legal to rummage through garbage here. There are of course stipulations, and if the dumpster is on private property you have to get permission from the owner.

If you aren't trespassing, or causing another unrelated crime while you are garbage-gathering you should be okay. My best advice is not to get into the dumpster.

A Texas man was dumped into a garbage truck in Odessa, Texas in 2023 according to CBS 7. 45-year-old Brandon Altman was sleeping inside a dumpster when it was dumped into the garbage truck.

You Never Know What You Will Find In A Texas Dumpster

If you are thinking about taking up this hobby for yourself, it's a good idea to get a grabber so you can reach things without getting in. You might find a prize, but you are sure to find garbage, and that's just part of the game.

You can legally go through trash on public property, but if you find one of these items in a dumpster, someone else broke the law.