If you want to start your dumpster diving adventure in Oregon, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go through numerous trash diving strategies and laws in Oregon in this comprehensive tutorial. I’ll give you some tips along the road on how to make the most of your treasure quest.
Dumpster Diving in Oregon
The Beaver State contains a whopping 25 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 2430 stores in these shopping centers and malls. In addition, wealthy areas in Oregon such as Sherwood, Happy Valley, Scappoose, Eagle Point, Tigard, West Linn, and Canby are considered garbage diving hotspots. As a result, Oregon has everything, whether you want to go trash diving in these rich neighborhoods or shop at malls and retail stores.
Related: Dumpster Diving in Washington: A Comprehensive Guide
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Oregon?
In the state of Oregon, dumpster diving is not illegal. In fact, dumpster diving is completely legal in Oregon. 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 in these locations may result in trespassing citations.
In most Oregon 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 Oregon. 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 Oregon has the ability to permanently exclude you from their property. You could be charged with disorderly conduct, 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 the finest places to go trash diving in Oregon, especially if you don’t have all of the necessary permissions.
Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in Oregon?
In Oregon, 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 location. Additionally, trash diving late at night in Oregon attracts considerably larger competition. Because they prefer seclusion, most dumpster divers prefer to go dumpster diving at night. Dumpster diving in Oregon is best done early in the morning or just after daylight, in my opinion.
Best places to go dumpster diving in Oregon
There are several amazing trash diving locations in Oregon. However, I’ve compiled a list of the greatest spots in Oregon where you can start trash diving while still making money.
- Garage Sales and Yard Sales
- Shopping malls
- Cafes and Bakeries
- Grocery Stores
- Cosmetic Stores
- Clothing Stores
- Construction Sites
Related: Dumpster Diving at Walmart: Legal or Illegal?
How much money can you make dumpster diving in Oregon?
A number of variables determine the amount of money you can make from dumpster diving in Oregon. Some people in Oregon go dumpster diving solely for the purpose of finding recyclable items to 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 Oregon 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 Oregon, you must put in the full-time effort and focus.
So, how much money can you make dumpster diving in Oregon? We talked to seven full-time professional trash divers in Oregon. And they all agreed that dumpster diving can pay up to $1500 per week in Oregon if done full-time. (Weekly hours: 40 or more)
Final Thoughts
Dumpster diving is not illegal in Oregon. However, depending on your city or county, there may be regulations prohibiting trash diving in Oregon. As a result, double-check the city code for each municipality, which can be found for free on the internet. Follow Oregon’s “Trespass after Warning” law, as well as local ordinances and good sense.
