You’ve come to the perfect site if you’re wondering where to begin your dumpster diving adventure in Wisconsin. Understanding your state’s rules and regulations is a good place to start. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go over a variety of trash diving techniques and laws in Wisconsin. Moreover, I’ll also give you some tips along the way on how to make the most of your treasure hunt.
Dumpster Diving in Wisconsin
With 62 commercial malls and complexes, the Badger State is one of the most popular trash diving sites in the country. The good news is that these retail centers and malls have a total of 3023 stores. Fox Point, Richfield, Hartland, Verona, Whitefish Bay, Elm Grove, and Pewaukee are among the more affluent Wisconsin cities where dumpster diving is widespread. As a result, whether you want to go trash diving in affluent neighborhoods or buy at malls and retail stores, Wisconsin offers it all.
Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Wisconsin?
In the state of Wisconsin, dumpster diving is not illegal. Dumpster diving is, in fact, perfectly allowed in Wisconsin. You must, however, follow your state’s trespassing laws as well as the ordinances and statutes of the city or municipality. In Wisconsin, dumpster diving without authorization can result in trespassing fines, 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 the majority of Wisconsin cities.
According to the famous United States Supreme Court case California v. Greenwood, a person or organization has effectively surrendered ownership rights to products left in public dumpsters across the country.
If you try to search through the dumpster while it is still inside a private residence in Wisconsin, you could be prosecuted with trespass or theft. You could be prosecuted with trespassing if you approach private property to try dumpster diving despite a plainly visible ‘No Trespassing’ sign, and the business in Wisconsin has the right to permanently exclude you from their premises. Charges such as disorderly behavior, illegal dumping, and littering could be levied against you.
As a result, if you need to get to a gate, fence, or private property, trash diving near one should be avoided. Those aren’t the finest spots to go trash diving in Wisconsin, especially if you don’t have all of the necessary permissions.
Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in Wisconsin?
Dumpster diving at night is legal in Wisconsin. In actuality, whether you dive dumpsters during the day or at night, the constraints remain the same. Trash scavenging at night in residential areas, on the other hand, appears to be rather dangerous. A cop may be dispatched to your place.
Furthermore, trash diving in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin is best done early in the morning or shortly after night, in my opinion.
Best places to go dumpster diving in Wisconsin
There are thousands of wonderful dumpster diving spots in Wisconsin. However, I’ve produced a list of the top locations to start trash diving and earning money in Wisconsin.
- Garage Sales
- Yard Sales
- Construction Sites
- Cosmetic and Jewelry Stores
- Video Game stores
- Grocery Stores
- Rich and Wealthy Neighborhoods
How much money can you make dumpster diving in Wisconsin?
The answer to this question is influenced by a variety of external factors. Many people in Wisconsin undertake trash diving to find recyclable stuff to sell and profit from. Others may wish to begin garbage diving in order to obtain food or groceries for personal use. Many individuals scour dumpsters for electronics, toys, books, and furniture to sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
In Wisconsin, dumpster diving as a full-time job will be incredibly tough to sustain. That’s not to say it won’t happen. This dumpster diving mama earns over $1,000 per week and has millions of views after only two years of rubbish diving as a side job. It shows that it’s doable, but if you want to make a living dumpster diving in Wisconsin, you’ll have to dedicate yourself full-time.
So, how much money can you make in Wisconsin by dumpster diving? We spoke with eight full-time professional Wisconsin trash divers. Working full-time as a garbage diver in Wisconsin might pay up to $1500 per week, they all agreed. (Must work at least 40 hours each week)
Final Thoughts
In Wisconsin, dumpster diving is not unlawful. Your city or county, on the other hand, may have rules against dumpster diving. As a result, double-check the city code for each municipality, which can be found for free online. Keep in mind Wisconsin’s “Trespass after Warning” law, as well as local restrictions and some common sense while dumpster diving in Wisconsin.