If you’re looking to start a dumpster diving adventure in Arizona, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go through a range of trash diving strategies and laws in Arizona in this comprehensive guide. I’ll give you some tips along the road on how to make the most of your treasure quest.
Dumpster Diving in Arizona
The Copper State offers 60 shopping malls and complexes, making it one of the best areas in the country to go trash diving. The good news is that there are 5490 stores in these shopping centers and malls. In addition, wealthy areas in Arizona such as Paradise Valley, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Marana, and Fountain Hills are considered dumpster diving hotspots. As a result, Arizona has everything, whether you want to go trash diving in these rich neighborhoods or shop at malls and retail stores.
Related: Dumpster Diving in Nevada: A Comprehensive Guide
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Arizona?
In Arizona, dumpster diving is not against the law. In fact, dumpster diving is completely legal in this state. You must, however, adhere to your state’s trespassing laws as well as the city or municipality’s policies and statutes. Because every company and private dwelling is normally private property, dumpster diving without permission may result in trespassing citations.
In most Arizona localities, there are no rules forbidding you from diving into dumpsters placed on public property, such as curbs for pickup.
According to the landmark United States Supreme Court case, California v. Greenwood from 1988, an individual or a business has virtually abandoned ownership rights to products deposited in dumpsters in public places across the country.
You could be charged with trespass or theft if you try to search through the dumpster while it is still inside a private house in Arizona. If you enter private property to try dumpster diving despite a clearly visible ‘No Trespassing’ sign, you may be charged with trespassing, and the business in Arizona has the ability to permanently ban you from their premises. You could be charged with disorderly behavior, illegal dumping, or littering.
As a result, you might want to reconsider trash diving in that region if you need to unlock a fence, a gate, or enter private property. Those aren’t Arizona’s best trash diving places, especially if you don’t have all of the necessary licenses or permits.
Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in Arizona?
In Arizona, dumpster diving at night is not illegal. In truth, the restrictions are the same whether you dive dumpsters during the day or at night. Trash scavenging in residential areas at night, on the other hand, appears to be rather risky. There’s a chance that a cop will be called to your place. Additionally, trash diving late at night in Arizona attracts a considerably larger crowd. Because they prefer seclusion, most dumpster divers prefer to go dumpster diving at night. Dumpster diving in Arizona is best done early in the morning or just after daylight, in my opinion.
Best places to go dumpster diving in Arizona
There are several amazing trash diving locations in Arizona. However, I’ve compiled a list of the greatest places in Arizona where you can start trash diving while still making money.
- Garage Sales
- Yard Sales
- Construction Sites
- Shopping malls
- Grocery stores
- Video game Stores
- Cosmetic Stores
- Bakery and Cafes
Related: Dumpster Diving at Walmart: Legal or Illegal?
How much money can you make dumpster diving in Arizona?
Many factors influence the answer to this question. Many people go dumpster diving in Arizona in order to find recyclable items that they can sell and profit from. Others may wish to begin garbage diving in order to obtain food or groceries for personal consumption. Many dumpster divers look for electronic devices, gadgets, books, and furniture to sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Garbage diving as a full-time career in Arizona will be difficult to sustain. I don’t mean to imply that it’s impossible. This dumpster diving mama earns about $4000 per month as a side hustle. It demonstrates that it is doable, but if you want to earn a living dumpster diving in Arizona, you will have to put in full-time effort and dedication.
So, how much money can you make trash diving in Arizona? We talked to eight full-time professional trash divers in Arizona. And they all agreed that dumpster diving can pay up to $1700 per week in Arizona if done full-time. (Weekly hours: 40 or more)
Final Thoughts
All in all, dumpster diving is not prohibited in Arizona. However, depending on your city or county, there may be regulations prohibiting trash diving in Arizona. As a result, double-check the city code for each municipality, which can be found for free on the internet. Follow Arizona’s “Trespass after Warning” law, as well as local ordinances and common sense.
