COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Many popular social media accounts are filled with stories of “hauls” gleaned from dumpsters behind stores and furniture items picked from neighborhood curbs on trash day.

Although there is no specific state law against dumpster diving or scavenging in Ohio, several sections of the Ohio Revised Code could apply to actions involved in retrieving items that have been thrown away.

One key legal consideration is trespassing laws. If a dumpster is on private property, entering it could be considered criminal trespassing. Additionally, there are theft and property rights. If the dumpster contents are still considered the property of a business or individual, taking them could be theft.

Most importantly, knowing the local ordinances is crucial to the legality of searching for treasures in the trash.

For example, Columbus’ city code includes the following prohibited activity:

1305.12 — Scavenging. No person shall remove any acceptable or unacceptable waste set out for collection by the Division of Refuse Collection or an authorized, licensed waste hauler under contract with the city unless such person has been authorized to do so by the city, the owner of such waste, or the authorized, licensed waste hauler.

Generally, city or municipal codes can be found on the locality’s website or by calling code enforcement for a specific area.