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, includingNew 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.

In the UK, Sunjay Versani of Duncan Lewis Solicitors says it depends on the circumstances.

"In many cases involving genuinely discarded goods, prosecution is unlikely," he says.

"But there is no general rule that something is free to take simply because it has been put in a skip or bin. If in doubt, the safest approach is to ask the owner or business for permission."