Dumpster Diving for Coupons

[micheller126]

not exactly the dumpster, but the recycle boxes.

Illegal, unethical???? What are your thoughts.

[FunnyFace]

If it is legal in my state(?), I would not think it is unethical. It's been discarded and I don't think anyone would have a problem that you are using the coupons instead of sending those to be shredded and recycled which is probably what happens when all is accounted for by the manufacturers. If it is a place of business I may just get their permission first to ease my mind.

[mrsjschultz]

Here in MI is was legal but people, as always, ruined it for others by being rude and pushy "Can I look through your stuff???!!!"....and it actually got out of hand - confrontational (my husband is a police officer) and now it is illegal and is called scavenging and yes, you can be arrested for it now.

I used to look now I just keep on walking because you never know who is going to call the cops on you. Sad.

Good job people. Way to ruin it for others.

[sandmike123]

Hmm.. I don't know if it is illegal, but I certainly do not think it is unethical. It is someones trash. I would love to have recycling dumpster around here to get coupons from.

[csthedays]

I've read of people who figure out what is the best day to 'camp' at the recycling dumpsters and ask people who come if they have coupons in their newspaper recyclables, then offer 'take care of it' for them in order to get the coupons out and put the rest in. I don't think it is unethical if you ask first, even if it is trash to the person who put it out, it is 'their' trash and they may be sensitive to it. I am scared to just look in the ones (recycle dumpsters - not curbside) we have around here, cause they all have signs that if you take anything out it is 'stealing' from them and they will prosecute if caught...

[jmupole1]

Funny you ask this question. Before I started getting my coupons from a friend, my husband would go to the local paper recycle dumpsters and look for coupons for me, but most of the time it wasn't worth the Effort. My SIL, however, knows the dumpsters to go to and would get tons of coupons. I used to work at a convenience store when I was younger and when we had Sunday papers left, we threw them away. Maybe ask at a local gas station what they do with their left over papers and ask if they will save them for you. It might be worth a chance.

[shannon1189]

I just asked this morning if I can get the inserts from the papers on Sunday. She told me yes and I will go and pick up on Monday mornings. I have her cell and will text to see if she has some. She said sometimes they do not have left overs but she will save what she has.

[TerryTerrific]

Something to consider (thinking caps on, remember, not too tight) ...

The dumpster bin is private property, usually on private property.

You have to appreciate the point of view of the entity that has the dumpster bin on their property.

Q) What happens if you are dumpster diving and you reach inside the dumpster and some clown thinks that a newspaper recycling bin should also hold broken sheets / shards of glass or scraps of sharp metal?

You are injured.

The ambulance chasers have been notified.

Q) Who is responsible?

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Terence in Brook Park, oHIo