Dumpster Diving in Iowa: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’re looking for a guide to get you started dumpster diving in Iowa, you’ve come to the perfect spot. Well! Understanding the rules and regulations in your state is a great place to start. We’ll go over a number of trash diving techniques as well as Iowa legislation in this full training session. I’ll give you some tips along the road on how to make the most of your treasure hunt.

Dumpster Diving in Iowa

The Hawkeye State is one of the most popular dumpster diving destinations in the country, with 14 shopping centers and tens of thousands of residential units. The good news is that there are 1618 stores in these shopping centers and malls. In affluent Iowa towns like Salisbury Oaks, Valley High Manor, Waveland Park, Kirkwood Glen, Waveland Woods, Drake Park, Newton, and Des Moines, dumpster diving is prevalent. As a result, Iowa has it all, whether you want to go trash diving in affluent districts or buy at shopping malls and retail stores.

Related: Dumpster Diving in Minnesota: A Comprehensive Guide

Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Iowa?

Iowa does not have any laws against dumpster diving. Dumpster diving is, in fact, completely allowed in this State. However, you must follow the trespassing laws of your state, as well as the ordinances and legislation of the city or municipality. If you go trash diving without permission in Iowa, you risk being charged with trespassing because every business and private dwelling is considered private property.

There are no regulations forbidding you from diving into dumpsters on public property, such as garbage pickup curbs, in most Iowa cities.

According to the landmark United States Supreme Court case California v. Greenwood, a person or business has effectively relinquished ownership rights to all waste placed in public dumpsters 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 Iowa. If you approach private property to try dumpster diving despite a clearly visible ‘No Trespassing’ sign, you could be charged with trespassing, and the business in Iowa has the power to permanently prohibit you from their premises. You could be charged with disorderly conduct, illegal dumping, and littering, to name a few.

As a result, you should avoid trash diving near a gate, fence, or private property if you need to enter one. These aren’t the finest places to go trash diving in Iowa, especially if you don’t have all of the appropriate permissions and licenses.

Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in Iowa?

Dumpster diving at night is perfectly permitted in Iowa. In actuality, whether you dive dumpsters during the day or at night, the constraints remain the same. Trash scavenging late at night in residential areas, on the other hand, appears to be dangerous. A police officer may be deployed to your area. Furthermore, trash diving in Iowa late at night draws a considerably larger throng. Most dumpster divers like to go dumpster diving at night because they seek privacy. Dumpster diving in Iowa is best done early in the morning or late at night, in my opinion.

Best places to go dumpster diving in Iowa

There are several dumpster diving spots in Iowa. However, I’ve put together a list of the top places in Iowa to start garbage diving for cash.

  1. Construction Sites
  2. Cosmetic Stores
  3. Yard Sales
  4. Apartment Complexes
  5. Shopping Malls
Related: Dumpster Diving at Walmart: Legal or Illegal?

How much money can you make dumpster diving in Iowa?

A variety of things influence how much money you can make dumpster diving in Iowa. Some people go dumpster diving simply to uncover recyclable stuff that they can sell and profit from. Others might want to start garbage diving to get food or groceries for their own usage. Electronics, furniture, and books are among the items that many dumpster divers hunt to sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

In Iowa, garbage diving as a full-time career will be challenging to continue. I’m not implying that it’s impossible. For this New York couple, dumpster diving is a side hustle that earns them over $3000 per month. It shows that it is doable, but if you want to earn a living dumpster diving in Iowa, you must devote your entire time to it.

So, how much money can you make in Iowa by trash diving? Well! We chatted with four full-time garbage diving couples from Iowa. They all agreed that if you dedicate full-time hours (40+ hours per week), trash diving in Iowa can pay up to $3500 per month.

Final Thoughts

Dumpster diving is not illegal in Iowa. Dumpster diving, on the other hand, maybe prohibited in your city or county. As a result, double-check the city code for each municipality, which may be accessed on the internet. Keep in mind Iowa’s “Trespass after Notice” law, as well as municipal boundaries, and exercise common sense.

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