Legal Question in Criminal Law in Tennessee

That is a definite unmistakable "maybe yes, maybe no."

Tennessee does not have any law against salvaging. As a general proposition, waste is discouraged, and even the State itself suggests: "Reduce, reuse, recycle."

BUT, waste can be a valuable resource, and for example, a merchant may prohibit "dumpster diving" when the merchant is being paid for the aluminum cans ($.48 cents a pound?), or other marketable waste.

Some food markets prohibit "dumpster diving" due to legitimate concerns that salvage food stuffs could be attributed to the market, and cause illness to the consumer/diver.

And some facilities just plain prohibit "dumpster diving" as an extension of "criminal trespassing" onto their property without authorization.

So, like I said, it depends.