From scooters to shampoo - the people saving hundreds from dumpster diving

But is taking things out of bins and keeping them acceptable in the eyes of the law?

Jeff, who is professor emeritus of sociology at Texas Christian University, says many US cities have made the practice illegal, including New York, Cleveland and Wichita.

"Dumpster diving is considered illegal [in such places] because that which is thrown away now belongs to the city... or to the private company that provided trash services," he explains. Any dumpster diver also risks trespass charges.

In Fort Worth, where Jeff lives, items can only be removed from bins if they are on public land, external.