I think this is one of those legal issues that only come up when someone raises a stink. You have no right to scavenge a dumpster and if some security guard objects, you’re legally obligated to desist. Not likely to happen though if you don’t leave a mess. But if you find a suitcase of $50,000 cash, you are on the hook to give it up to the police.
So what I don’t know to start a vein in this thread, is who will get the $50,000 after the courts are done and the legitimate owner doesn’t surface?
The finder?
The company that owns the dumpster?
The business that contracted for the use of the dumpster?
If this is any help, 68 Am. Jur. 2d Searches and Seizures § 25:
The problem: unlike a business office building, it is not customary for the public to be invited or allowed onto a construction site, and most construction sites have either fences or “No Trespassing” signs at the perimeter of the site.
Just ask, they most likely pay by weight, or at least per container. They’ll probably be happy to let you take some out if it means they can cram more in.
On the other hand, they might not want you on the site at all. If that’s the case, I’d suggest you offer a bribe to the GC. Say $20-$50 should probably get you as much as you can take.
Ok the colonial home was a true colonial circ. 1850. Sad the historic society deemed it ok to deconstruct.
Granite in the dumpster would not go on ebay - no way no how. That’s going in my yard if I get permission to take it.
There are no “no tresspassing signs” anywhere because the property is for sale, and potential buyers can come at their leisure and look at the acreage.
I tend to raid a lot of condemned houses for general stuff, anything I find interesting. It is trespassing. I have never been caught but then I am very careful. And I know that the stuff I’m interested in, chances are, no one else is.
I suspect the same of dumpsters…I would go 'cause that granite needs a good home! But I would go after everyone has gone off the site…'cause if you ask, and they say no, you’re done.
This post reminds me of an incident that happened a few years ago.
My landscape company was putting in some trees in for a lady who had just moved in to a house. She asked me if I wanted some bricks that the previous owner had left in the garage. When I saw the bricks, I knew they were a very expensive type and there were a few hundred of them, but I didn’t have any use for them. I told her that I could find someone who would take them away.
The next time I was at the local builders supply, I told the guy at the counter about the bricks and gave him the address and I thought that would be the end of it.
Turns out some contractor went to the house and the lady gave him all the bricks. The problem was that he was pulled over by the police who wanted to see the receipt for the bricks. Construction site theft is a BIG problem around here, so when the contractor told them some lady just gave him several hundred dollars worth of bricks, they just laughed. And bought him to jail! They didn’t want to bother driving several miles back to where he said he got the bricks. He didn’t have her phone number. The next day they did send a patrol car over to the lady’s house and after a night in jail, the police let him go.
Yeah, there’s always the danger that the police, or a secuity co., are watching around construction sites. Just a few days ago we had an incident where vandals broke into some new houses under construction. They did over 30 grand in damage to just one house. Then there are folks who steal construction materials. It’s too bad that there are always a few who screw things up for the remainder of us.
Ok, this is what I’d do- if the dumpster is behind a fence on private property, I’d ask- but not legally with a letter, just ask some dude when you see him dumping.
Open to all on the street, I’d just go for it. About the worst that could happen is a “hey get out of there!”.
Ouch! I just walked over to the property because I saw the Contractor’s truck pull up. He was very nice to me, and said that in his line of work people ask all the time. He said anything in that dumpster is free game, have at it. :)
He also mentioned that salvagables are always loaded into a separate truck and hauled off usually that day…
So I’m happy, I am the new owner of several 19th century granit hitching posts circ. 1820’s…Oh yeah!
I get upset when I see perfectly lovely kitchen and bath cabinets demoed on desgin shows, because the owner likes a different style. Around here, those could be resold at a number of non-profits who use the income for social services. I understand demoing the crappy ones when flipping a worn-down house, but I’m talking nearly-new cabinets and fixtures.
I guess maybe there is a glut of these things elsewhere?
Probably not. Demolishing them gets it taken care of immediately – which is a major concern in a time sensitive project. You can almost always sell / donate those things, but doing so takes time, and may involve taking phone calls if you run an ad, arranging for folks to come pick them up, and the cabinets are sitting there in the way while you sort it out.
Also, on design shows specifically, demolishing them is likely to bring in better ratings than just selling or donating them. Not everything done on TV is done when the cameras aren’t running.
FWIW, I sold most of my stuff left over from the recent kitchen remodel via craigslist, even the kitchen sink. Some of the stuff just couldn’t be efficiently removed without destroying it, though. Some of the cabinets I saved, though, in case I decide to build my beer laboratory in the basement; otherwise the Habitat for Humanity ReStore will be glad to have them (good source to purchase lots of goodies, too, if you have one handy).
A dumpster on privite property, contracted to a business for hauling away, is not public property. Ask. I’ve given people warnings that the cops will be called if they don’t leave. My employer didn’t want the mess and liability of dumpster divers.
