It is true that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, but just how lawful of an adage is it?

Many people pride themselves on finding items for their home and even clothing by looking through bins and skips, with many self-named Freegans feeding themselves for nothing every night with left over wasted food.

But what about taking items from skips in the street? Are you breaking the law?

Many households use skips when renovating or moving
Many households use skips when renovating or moving

The law on taking items from bins and skips is very patchy.

The definition of theft in UK law is to “dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another, with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it”.

So in order to be guilty of theft, you would need to be intentionally taking something from someone without their permission.

However, many people would be led to believe that if an item was in a bin or a skip, it is no longer wanted and the person has relinquished their ownership upon it.

The owner of the items could press charges if the objects in the skip were not intended to be thrown away or discarded.

But where it does become difficult with the law is how you acquired the items.

In most areas, skip hire companies are responsible for getting skip licences, also known as skip permits.

You can’t put a skip on the pavement and you don’t need a skip licence if you’re putting the skip entirely on private land.

The law is patchy when it comes to theft from a skip
The law is patchy when it comes to theft from a skip

If the skip is on a public road, you are not trespassing, but if it is on private land, then it is. This means charges of trespassing rather than theft could be brought.


If you have the skip owner’s permission to take items, then you don’t need to be in fear or breaking any laws.

So knock on the door, ask if you can have that still useable item and be on your merry, lawful way.