Patriot-
At least in Indiana: Any trash can or container that you set out to the road on your trash day is able to be searched by the police. BUT the law enforcement must FIRST approach a judge with probable cause and that judge must determine if there is said probable cause to issue a search warrant to then have law enforcement pick up the trash and search it. Spent 4 years working in the government system so I kinda sorta know what I'm preaching.
A dumpster that is on a jobsite, behind a gate, or at a company business on company owned property is private property. In this case above, entering private property is an easy trespass charge, and if anything is removed from the premises including from inside the dumpster could be considered theft. Think of it in another manner. Our recycling company that holds the contract for my town's trash route gives us plastic recycling bins. They have their name on it. You can actually be charged with theft for taking say aluminum cans out of that container- even if it is on your curb, because it is XYZ's property. Would they enforce it? Doubtful, but would I want to risk going to jail because I pilfered all the recycle bins on a street? No.
And just as an added bonus, that same company that provides us our recycle bins is also one of the largest dumpster rental firms in the state!
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