[dsfyu404ed]

>So it's always better to ask first, otherwise it's technically stealing.

This is textbook safe that is lacking in street smarts.

You can't ask because then you're pushing the responsibility of you being there onto someone else. They don't want some ambulance chasing lawyer to come bitching at them if you get hurt so they have to say no. But if you're discreet can just pretend that you're trespassing.

So just don't ask and know what is or isn't fair game.

Additionally, scrap of the mixed random stuff variety that is worth picking through is cents a pound. They won't care if you're not taking serious volume.

[domtron_vox]

We usually asked with only a few turning us down, though we are fairly rural/small town so the builders we interacted with may not have been burned by people that are sue happy or maybe are just smaller and didn't consider that legal aspect.

[systems_glitch]

The correct question is, "HEY YOU THROWING THAT OUT?!"