Wondering where to start your West Virginia dumpster diving adventure? Well! Understanding the laws and regulations of your state is a good place to start. We’ll go over a variety of trash diving strategies and rules in West Virginia in this comprehensive guide. Furthermore, I’ll give you some pointers along the way on how to make the most of your treasure hunt.
Dumpster Diving in West Virginia
The Mountain State is one of the most popular trash diving destinations in the country, with 8 shopping malls and complexes. The good news is that there are 950 stores in these shopping centers and malls. Dumpster diving is also popular in more affluent West Virginia neighborhoods such as Bridgeport, Vienna, Hurricane, South Charleston, Dunbar, Charles Town, and Weirton. As a result, WV has it all, whether you want to go trash diving in these affluent neighborhoods or shop at malls and retail stores.
Related: Dumpster Diving in Kentucky: A Comprehensive Guide
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in West Virginia?
Dumpster diving is not against the law in West Virginia. In fact, dumpster diving is completely legal in this state. You must, however, abide by your state’s trespassing laws as well as the city or municipality’s policies and statutes. Dumpster diving without permission may result in trespassing tickets in West Virginia, as every business and private residence is considered private property.
In most West Virginia cities, there are no laws prohibiting you from diving into dumpsters located on public property, such as garbage collection curbs.
A person or business has effectively waived ownership rights to items discarded in public dumpsters across the country, according to the landmark 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 West Virginia. 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 West Virginia has the authority to permanently ban you from their premises. You may be charged with disorderly conduct, illegal dumping, or littering.
As a result, if you need to open a fence, a gate, or enter private property, you should reconsider trash diving in that area. Those aren’t the best places in West Virginia to go trash diving, especially if you don’t have all of the required permits and licenses.
Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, dumpster diving at night is legal. In reality, 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 extremely hazardous. It is possible that an officer will be sent to your location. Furthermore, trash diving late at night attracts a much larger competition in West Virginia. Because they prefer seclusion, most dumpster divers prefer to go dumpster diving at night. Dumpster diving in West Virginia is best done early in the morning or just after dusk, in my opinion.
Best places to go dumpster diving in West Virginia
There are thousands of excellent dumpster diving locations in West Virginia. However, I’ve compiled a list of the best spots in West Virginia to start dumpster diving and making cash along the way.
- Construction Sites
- Retail Stores
- Yard and Garage Sales
- Shoe Stores
- Video Game Stores
Related: Dumpster Diving at Walmart: Legal or Illegal?
How much money can you make dumpster diving in West Virginia?
A number of factors influence the answer to this question. Many West Virginia residents go trash diving to find recyclable items that they can sell and profit from. Others may want to start garbage diving to get food or groceries for personal consumption. Many people go dumpster diving in order to find electronics, gadgets, books, and furniture to sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Dumpster diving as a full-time job in WV will be extremely difficult to sustain. I’m not saying it’s impossible. Within two years of dumpster diving as a side hustle, this dumpster diving mama earns around $1,000 per week and has millions of views. It demonstrates that it is possible, but you must commit full-time if you want to make a living dumpster diving in West Virginia.
So, how much money can you make dumpster diving in West Virginia? We spoke with seven full-time professional trash divers from WV. They all agreed that working full-time as a garbage diver in West Virginia can pay up to $1600 per week. (Must work a minimum of 40 hours per week)
Final Thoughts
Trash diving is not illegal in West Virginia in general. However, there may be laws prohibiting trash diving in your city or county. As a result, double-check each municipality’s city code, which is free to access online. Adhere to West Virginia’s “Trespass after Warning” statute, as well as local ordinances and common sense.
