Dumpster Diving in New Jersey: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’re looking for a guide to get you started dumpster diving in New Jersey, you’ve come to the perfect place. Well! Understanding the rules and regulations in your state is a great place to start. We’ll go through a number of trash diving tactics as well as New Jersey’s legislation on this side hustle in this detailed guide. I’ll give you some tips along the road on how to make the most of your treasure hunt.

Dumpster Diving in New Jersey

The Garden State is one of the most popular trash diving destinations in the country, with 70 shopping centers and tens of thousands of residential units. The good news is that there are 6605 stores in these shopping centers and malls. In rich New Jersey cities like North Caldwell, Haddonfield, Rumson, Allendale, Westfield, and Ridgewood, dumpster diving is popular. As a result, New Jersey has everything, whether you want to go trash diving in affluent districts or buy at shopping malls and retail stores.

Related: Dumpster Diving in New York: A Comprehensive Guide

Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, there are no laws preventing garbage diving. Dumpster diving is, in fact, perfectly permitted in this state. You must, however, follow your state’s trespassing laws as well as the ordinances and statutes of the city or municipality. If you go trash diving without permission in New Jersey, you risk getting charged for trespassing, as every business and private residence is considered private property.

There are no restrictions forbidding you from diving into dumpsters on public property, such as garbage pickup curbs, in most New Jersey communities.

According to the landmark United States Supreme Court case California v. Greenwood, a person or organization has effectively relinquished ownership rights to any waste left 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 New Jersey. 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 New Jersey has the right to permanently ban you from their premises. Disorderly behavior, illegal dumping, and littering are just a few of the charges that could be brought against you.

As a result, you should avoid trash diving near a gate, fence, or private property if you need to enter one. If you don’t have all of the appropriate rights and qualifications, these aren’t the finest spots to go trash diving in New Jersey.

Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in New Jersey?

Dumpster diving at night is perfectly permitted in New Jersey. 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 New Jersey late at night attracts a considerably larger throng. Most dumpster divers like to go dumpster diving at night because they seek privacy. Dumpster diving in New Jersey is best done early in the morning or late at night, in my opinion.

Best places to go dumpster diving in New Jersey

Throughout the state of New Jersey, there are thousands of excellent dumpster diving locations. However, I have filtered and listed some of the best places in New Jersey to begin your trash diving adventure.

  1. Construction Sites
  2. Yard Sales
  3. Garage Sales
  4. Bakeries
  5. Toy Stores
  6. Cosmetic Stores
  7. Electronic Shops

How much money can you make dumpster diving in New Jersey?

The amount of money you can make dumpster diving in New Jersey is determined by a number of factors. Some dumpster divers only go dumpster diving to find recyclable items to sell and profit from. Others may want to start garbage diving to get food or groceries for personal consumption. Many dumpster divers are looking for electronics, furniture, and books to sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

Garbage diving as a full-time job in New Jersey will be difficult to sustain. I’m not saying it’s unthinkable. For this New York couple, dumpster diving is a side hustle that earns them more than $3000 per month. It shows that it is possible; however, if you want to make a living dumpster diving in New Jersey, you must devote your entire time to the activity.

So, how much money can you make in New Jersey trash diving? Well! We spoke with five full-time garbage diving couples in New Jersey. They all agreed that if you devote full-time hours (40+ hours per week), trash diving in New Jersey can pay up to $3800 per month.

Final Thoughts

Dumpster diving is not illegal in New Jersey. Dumpster diving, on the other hand, could be against the law in your city or county. As a result, double-check the city code for each municipality, which can be found on the internet. Proceed with caution, keeping New Jersey’s “Trespass after Notice” law and municipal boundaries in mind.

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