You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a guide to help you get started dumpster diving in Tennessee. Well! Understanding your state’s rules and regulations is an excellent place to start. In this comprehensive instructional session, we’ll go over a variety of trash diving techniques as well as laws in Tennessee. Along the way, I’ll give you some pointers on how to make the most of your treasure quest.
Dumpster Diving in Tennessee
With 40 shopping centers and tens of thousands of residential units, the Volunteer State is one of the most popular dumpster diving states in the country. The good news is that these shopping centers and malls contain 3909 stores. Dumpster diving is common in affluent Tennessee areas such as Farragut, Collierville, Germantown, Lookout Mountain, Owasso, Brentwood, Oak Hill, and Belle Meade. As a result, whether you want to go trash diving in affluent neighborhoods or shop at shopping malls and retail stores, Tennessee offers it all.
Related: Dumpster Diving in Kentucky: A Comprehensive Guide
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Tennessee?
Dumpster diving is not prohibited in Tennessee. In fact, dumpster diving is entirely 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. You could risk trespassing charges if you go trash diving without permission in Tennessee, as every business and private residence is considered private property.
Most Tennessee municipalities have no laws prohibiting you from diving into dumpsters on public property, such as garbage pickup curbs.
A person or business has effectively abandoned ownership rights to everything thrown garbage in public dumpsters across the country, according to the historic United States Supreme Court case California v. Greenwood.
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 Tennessee. 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 Tennessee 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. These aren’t the best places in Tennessee for trash diving, especially if you don’t have all of the required permits and licenses.
Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, dumpster diving at night is entirely legal. In reality, the limits are the same whether you dive dumpsters during the day or at night. Trash scavenging in residential neighborhoods late at night, on the other hand, appears to be risky. It’s possible that a police officer will be dispatched to your location. Furthermore, trash diving late at night in Tennessee attracts a much larger crowd. Because they prefer seclusion, most dumpster divers prefer to go dumpster diving at night. Dumpster diving in Tennessee, in my opinion, is best done early in the morning or late at night.
Best places to go dumpster diving in Tennessee
Tennessee has a number of dumpster diving locations. However, I’ve compiled a list of the best sites to start garbage diving for cash in Tennessee.
- Book Stores
- Bakeries and Cafes
- Toy Stores
- Shopping Complex
- Strip Malls
Related: Dumpster Diving at Walmart: Legal or Illegal?
How much money can you make dumpster diving in Tennessee?
A variety of things influence how much money you can make dumpster diving in Tennessee. Some people 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 electronics, furniture, and books to sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Garbage diving as a full-time career in Tennessee will be difficult to maintain. I don’t mean to imply that it’s impossible. Dumpster diving is a side hustle for this New York couple that makes them over $3000 each month. It demonstrates that it is possible, but if you want to make a life dumpster diving in Tennessee, you must devote yourself full-time.
So, how much money can you make trash diving in Tennessee? Well! We chatted with eight full-time professional garbage diving couples from Tennessee. They all agreed that trash diving in Tennessee can pay up to $3500 per month if you devote full-time hours (40+ hours per week).
Final Thoughts
In Tennessee, dumpster diving is not prohibited. In your city or county, however, dumpster diving may be forbidden. As a result, double-check each municipality’s city code, which can be found on the internet. Keep in mind the “Trespass after Notice” statute in Tennessee, as well as municipal limits, and use common sense.
