[header] How to dumpster dive [title] Familiarize yourself with your local laws. [step] Before you jump in headfirst, it will be worth knowing the legal risks you face for reclaiming waste items from public containers. In most places, trash is not considered private property, so it's unlikely that you'll be charged with theft. 
However, it's possible for dumpster divers to be targeted for other offenses, such as invasion of privacy, trespassing or vagrancy. [substeps] Dumpster diving is generally frowned upon in polite society, even in places where it's technically legal.