What is illegal dumping?
It is illegal to dump garbage anywhere other than a legally authorized location. Dumping garbage in places like along a roadside, in a ditch, storm drain, or in a vacant lot is against the law. It's illegal to let anyone dump garbage on your property and littering is also against the law. Punishments for illegal dumping can include fines, jail time, and loss of the vehicle used by the violator.

Dumping trash in unauthorized locations can lead to a number of health and safety concerns and can become a stormwater problem. Improperly disposed waste can be picked up by storm water and carried into our local waterways, harming water quality. Illegal dumping also fosters a negative image in a community. People are much more likely to dump on property where a dump site already exists. Not to mention the high costs for clean-up can run into the thousands or even millions of dollars! When county workers clean up litter and illegal dumps, your tax dollars are spent to clean up somebody else's garbage and cannot be used for other, more urgent needs.

Show All Answers

1. What is a Watershed?
2. What is stormwater?
3. What is a storm drain?
4. How does stormwater get into our rivers and streams?
5. How does stormwater get polluted?
6. What are some examples of pollutants in stormwater?
7. What are the effects of these pollutants on our waters?
8. How is stormwater different from wastewater?
9. Do cities in North Central Texas treat stormwater?
10. What is illegal dumping?
11. Who can I contact to obtain more information about stormwater in my City?