Village Council Passes Ordinance to Ban "Dumpster Diving"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT

Delaynie Potts

Village Clerk-Fiscal Officer and Assistant to the Executive

Telephone: (740) 742-2121, Ext. 1000

delaynie.potts@villageofrutland.org

RUTLAND, Ohio — The Rutland Village Council on Tuesday passed legislation banning persons from rummaging or scavenging through dumpsters, an act commonly known or referred to as, "dumpster diving".

Ordinance 2026-14, sponsored by Councilor Carol Moore, enacts Section 52.03 of the Rutland Municipal Code, which creates a new criminal offense, "scavenging".

Under the ordinance, persons will be prohibited from rummaging through, scavenging or removing any material from trash recepticles, dumpsters or other solid waste or recyclable material container that is stored on any private property improved with a family residence, apartment, or structure; or has been placed at the adjacent curb or public street right-of-way for trash collection, disposal or recycling.

Violations of the ordinance constitute a minor misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $150, 30 hours of community control, or both.

Mayor Eblin explains until the passage of Ordinance 2026-14, there was no public law banning persons from rummaging through trash recepticles, noting that if a person discarded trash at the curb in the public right-of-way, any other person could have rummaged through that trash without any criminal penalties. Ordinance 2026-14 changes that, making such activity a criminal offense.

"The community has spoken, and the Village Council has listened," comments Mayor Eblin. "Multiple complaints have been directed to my office regarding individuals diving into dumpsters, taking items, leaving a mess, and at one time, jumping out of the dumpster as an individual was preparing to discard trash. Dumpsters aren't exclusive. Trash cans along the street have also been affected. This behavior has to stop.

The ordinance now heads to the Mayor's desk for his signature. Once signed into law, the ordinance would become effective 30 days after the Mayor's signature.