Lubbock, Can You Get in Trouble for Taking Things From a Dumpster?

You ever spot something sticking out of the dumpster that looked too good to pass up? One man's trash may be another man's questionable living room furniture...

But is it actually illegal to dig around for treasures in someone else's dumpster?

a couple of trash cans sitting in the middle of a street

I've been known to dumpster dive with the best of them, and I've never gotten in trouble for it.

Have I just gotten lucky?

Let's see what the law has to say...

Oof.

Turns out, I might need to rethink hopping into the dumpster behind my favorite store...

According to Lubbock City Ordinance 22.06.150, it's unlawful to scavenge, pilfer, or tamper with another person's garbage container.

There goes my retirement plan.

(It was Beanie Babies, but you see how well that's worked out.)

assorted-color trash bins

Violating the sanitation code can also result in a misdemeanor fine of $15 to $200, and that's not all. There are also criminal trespassing laws in Texas, so they could really stack those fines up on you if they wanted to. Not exactly worth it for a few tubes of makeup from Ulta...

But...what about the perfectly good "junk" sitting next to the dumpster?

Person standing near dumpsters filled with trash bags

That's where things get tricky.

Before you haul away an old couch, mattress, or whatever goodie you deem acceptable to drag back to your lair, you should ask permission. Chances are, they'll be happy for you to take it away. If they aren't, then perhaps it wasn't meant for you.

OR...they could be saving you from some kind of cursed item...

But be careful, guys, nonetheless.

Nothing ruins the excitement of finding a free lamp quite like being fined for it...