Can You Legally Dig Through The Trash In Great Falls, Montana?

Short answer, No. It's illegal to dumpster dive in Great Falls.

Here it is from the City of Great Falls Municipal Code:

"8.8.190 - Salvaging prohibited.

A. No person may pick over, sort, segregate, or salvage any refuse deposited in an authorized disposal area, refuse container or refuse pile.

B. A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a term not to exceed six (6) months in jail, a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both."

dumpster diving great falls, montana
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My Neighbor, The Garbage Nazi

I Used To Think Dumpster Diving Was OK

Until I moved into my current house, the one in the alley, I thought dumpster diving was harmless. Why not take trash and repurpose it?

Thing is, the people who dumpster dive, generally leave an enormous mess. Now, in my current home, that mess is in my front yard. It is absolutely infuriating. You're probably thinking "move out of the alley then". Why would that make any difference at all? I don't want trash strewn everywhere ANYWHERE around where I live.

My Alley Gets Divers AND Dumpers

That's the thing, if someone isn't up in all of the trash cans in the alley, some other jackwad is coming under the cover of night and dumping things ALL OVER the alley.

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Just LOOK At This Mess: What Is Happening In My Alley?

People on an old Facebook post from the Great Falls Police Department are all up in arms because it's illegal. I get it. Things should be repurposed and recycled. Thing is, look at the picture on their post. THIS, I believe, is why dumpster diving is illegal in the Electric City.

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