Is it Okay to Dumpster Dive in Michigan?

Some call it treasure hunting, but is 'dumpster diving' legal in Michigan?

The answer is mostly 'yes'. Although it is legal on public property, there are certain things you need to know about dumpster diving. First and foremost, anything on private property is off limits and you could earn you tresspassing charges. You should check with your city or municipality’s ordinances and laws.

Often times, people leave items at the end of their driveway they are looking to get rid of, and with a little elbow grease and some spray paint, you might be able to clean and fix things to use or resell.

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According to ResellingRevealed.com, retail store dumpsters might contain items that are usable, but 'not fit' to sell. However, many large retailers, like Walmart, send items back through their Claims department which then may end up being sold to liquidators.  When in doubt, check for signs posted at the dumpster regarding tresspassing.

Next week is "move out" week at MSU, which means that there will be plenty of items - furniture, clothes, bikes, small appliances - taken to the dumpster by students who are moving out of East Lansing.

If you like the thrill of finding things you can re-use, re-purpose or re-sell, check out the MSU Surplus Store. The store is open to the public on Fridays and sells almost anything you can imagine - with most of it coming directly from MSU (students, faculty, staff, and various buildings across campus). Some of these items are truly unique things you might only find at a large university. Sometimes you can buy clothing by the pound. But, all of the items are looking for a way to stay out of landfills.