Waste experts have issued fresh guidance as growing numbers of people turn to so-called “dumpster diving”, the practice of taking items from skips and bins, amid concerns about waste, recycling, and the rising cost of living.

The trend, also known as skip-diving, often appears harmless: people spot usable furniture, wood, metal or household items left in a skip and assume they’re free to take. But according to skip experts at JWS Waste, the legal reality is far more complicated than many realise. Under UK law, there is no single piece of legislation that explicitly bans or permits dumpster diving.

However, items inside a skip still belong to the person or business who hired it until the waste contractor collects it. Removing anything without permission could therefore amount to theft under the Theft Act 1968 – even if the object looks like rubbish. Experts also warn that the majority of skips sit on private property such as driveways, gardens, construction sites or business premises. Anyone entering that land to access a skip without consent may be committing trespass, and in some cases even aggravated trespass, which is a criminal offence. 

Nigel Kemp from JWS Waste said: “People understandably want to reduce waste and make use of second-hand materials, but many aren’t aware they could be breaking the law simply by taking something from a skip.

“A skip’s contents remain the property of the hirer until disposal and accessing skips on private land without permission risks both legal and safety consequences.” Beyond legality, the company is urging the public to consider the significant health and safety risks involved. Skips often contain sharp objects and broken materials and some items legally should not be handled by untrained individuals. 

Nigel added: “We regularly see householders surprised to learn that allowing strangers to rummage through their skip could actually make them liable if someone is injured.

“Even if you give permission, you have to consider what’s in the skip – not all waste is safe, and not all waste is legally allowed to be passed on.” However, Nigel confirms that permission is the key factor. If someone owns or has hired the skip, they can legally allow others to take items from it – though they must remain mindful of UK waste legislation, which restricts how certain materials can be handled or redistributed. 

To help householders and curious skip-divers understand the rules, JWS Waste has shared its Top Five Tips: 

  • Always ask permission– If you don’t own the skip, you need the hirer’s approval before taking anything. 
  • Don’t assume items are abandoned– Some people temporarily store materials in skips; removing them too early can be theft.  
  • Beware of private property– If the skip is on a driveway or business premises, entering the land without consent is trespass. 
  • Think safety first– Skips may contain hidden hazards; never climb inside or handle unknown materials. 
  • Follow waste-management rules– Certain items legally require professional disposal and should not be removed or reused. 

JWS Waste is encouraging the public to use safer, more sustainable reuse routes such as community exchange groups, charity shops, recycling centres and organised salvage schemes instead of relying on informal skip-diving. 

“There are plenty of legitimate ways to reduce waste and reuse materials,” Nigel said. “But unsupervised skip-diving is rarely safe and is often unlawful. Our advice is simple: if in doubt, don’t take it out.”