To the editor:

The Dumpster diving story in Saturday’s Journal-World (“One man’s trash not legally another’s treasure”) is based on an inaccuracy. Dumpster diving IS legal – in Lawrence and everywhere else in the U.S. – thanks to a 1988 Supreme Court decision (California v. Greenwood). The city does not have the power to outlaw it.

I think Mr. Corliss (head of the city’s legal services department) is grossly misconstruing the intent and scope of this city code. From the wording, “The city shall have the exclusive right to collect and dispose of refuse within the city limits,” I think it’s pretty clear that its intent is simply to prevent private trash companies from operating in Lawrence and competing with the city’s refuse collection service.

It is perfectly legal to take anything from the trash as long as you aren’t trespassing to get to it. This is something every journalist should know, and I am shocked that no one at the Journal-World noticed this before your story ran. It makes me question the credentials of your entire staff.

Sean Ringey,

Lawrence