Maybe you could talk to somebody at the dump. It could make them more money. The Sonoma dump has several employees that just work the recycle area and they do a brisk business there. They now have a second hand shop in Santa Rosa with its own employees. Prices are cheap, stuff doesn't go into the landfill, and people regularly shop both places. I recently bought a mountain bike for $15 -- had to put air in the tires (and get rid of the spiders and spider webs).
Times like these, I'd think additional income would be interesting to them.
I've picked things out of the containers in the recycle area -- no problem. If somebody wants to buy it, they're willing to take their money. I got a Bridgeport nail puller in near new condition from the 2nd hand store, and a 1950 thumbhole Disston, and both had been pulled from a container by the gal who runs the 2nd hand shop.
I've just found out that there are a couple of dumps near Sacramento that have similar operations, but I haven't been to look yet.
