To report illegal dumping in the state of Texas:
- You will need to gather any evidence you have of the illegal dumping that took place (i.e. video camera footage,...
- You can call the illegal dumping hotline to report illegal dumping at 888-335-DUMP to report any crimes that occur...
- You will need to go online and fill out a form about the instance of illegal dumping you...
How do I report illegal dumping in Harris County?
Contact the Harris County Environmental Crimes Unit at 832.927.6161 to report illegal trash dumping in Harris County. You can report an illegal dumping incident or a county trash dumping site to this division. The Environmental Crimes Unit also offers an online Report Illegal Dumping application to complete.
What should you do if you see illegal dumping?
If you see illegal dumping taking place, note the time, location, vehicle description and license plate, and what the perpetrator looks like. Also, take note of the items being dumped. If you come across items that have already been dumped, report the location of the garbage.
What are the penalties for illegal dumpster dumping in Texas?
If you get caught illegally dumping, you can face steep fines up to thousands of dollars or possibly even jail time. While penalties vary from state to state, illegal dumping in Texas is considered a serious crime and can be very costly. According to the Texas Health and Safety Code, the punishment is more severe the more waste you dump.
What is illegally dumping?
Illegal dumping refers to the unlawful act of disposing of trash on private or public land where doing so is not permitted. This includes discarding items like appliances, tires, household garbage, construction debris, autos and yard waste. Illegally dumping trash is considered a crime and a threat to public health and safety.
What is considered illegal dumping in Texas?
Illegal dumping refers to the unlawful act of disposing of trash on private or public land where doing so is not permitted. This includes discarding items like appliances, tires, household garbage, construction debris, autos and yard waste.
What is the fine for illegal dumping in Texas?
Fine not to exceed $2,000. Confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days. Both fine and confinement.
How do you address illegal dumping?
Here are some key points to help deter illegal dumping: Educate the public through the schools and through community awareness groups about the costs, chemical hazards and dangers incurred by illegal dumping. Create safe, public-friendly waste disposal options and advertise them.
Is illegal dumping a misdemeanor in Texas?
Littering and illegal dumping are serious crimes in Texas and violations may take place at both misdemeanor and felony levels. Most of the violations are of provisions of the Texas Health & Safety Code ("H&S”) or of the Texas Water Code ("TWC”).
What is illegal dumping of waste?
Illegal dumping occurs when solid wastes are discarded or caused to be dumped or placed on any property, either public or private, without proper authorization or legitimate purpose. Illegal dumping is a difficult issue that local and state governments must address on a continual basis.
Is dumpster diving illegal in Texas?
In Texas, dumpster diving is not illegal. Dumpster diving is, in fact, perfectly permitted in this state. You must, however, follow your state's trespassing laws as well as the ordinances and statutes of the city or municipality.
How do you stop people from dumping your land?
Talking to the Person Directly.Get the Police Involved.Use Security Cameras.Put up “No Illegal Dumping” Signs.Lock Your Area.Contact Local Environmental Divisions.
How is illegal dumping a violation of the environment?
1. Illegal Dumping Damages the Environment. Land, water, soil, and air pollution in the neighborhood are primarily caused by illegal dumping. The chemicals and non-biodegradable materials in the waste affect the physical environment and the waterways by contaminating groundwater and soil.
Is dumping illegal?
Illegal dumping is the disposal of trash generated at one location and disposed of at another location without legal permission. This includes dumping yard waste, appliances, tires and other garbage in alleys, dumpsters, vacant lots and open desert locations.
Is throwing a cigarette out the window littering in Texas?
Texas Court: Tossing A Cigarette From Car Is Illegal. Texas Court of Appeals not impressed by argument that tossing a cigarette out a car window is not littering if no fire is started. The Texas Court of Appeals does not want smokers tossing lit cigarettes out car windows.
Is littering an arrestable offense in Texas?
(d) An offense under Subsection (a), (b), or (c) is a Class C misdemeanor if the litter or other solid waste to which the offense applies weighs five pounds or less or has a volume of five gallons or less. (3) both such fine and confinement.
How do I report littering in Texas?
Then, visit TxDOT's Report a Litterer to report the incident. TxDOT compares the information through the Department of Motor Vehicles registration database, and when an exact match is located, we send the litterer a Don't mess with Texas litterbag along with a letter reminding them to keep their trash off of our roads.
How much is a ticket for littering in Texas?
What Are the Penalties for Littering? Littering is against the law and there are hefty fines for violations. For trash less than or equal to five pounds or five gallons, fines can be up to $500. Repeat offenses are even costlier, resulting in up to $2,000 in fines and 180 days in jail.
What is considered theft of services in Texas?
When a person uses a threat or deception to avoid paying for a service, they can face criminal theft of service charges in Texas. Theft of service charges can also occur when a person agrees to make a payment for a service and then refuses to pay for the service after it is rendered.
What is considered littering in Texas?
Littering is against the law and you can be fined up to $500 for trash less than or equal to five pounds or five gallons (as you may have seen on those blue Don't mess with Texas signs). Repeat the offense, and you could face a fine of up to $2,000 and 180 days in jail.
Is littering illegal in California?
(a) It is unlawful to litter or cause to be littered in or upon public or private property. A person, firm, or corporation violating this section is guilty of an infraction.
About the Don't Mess with Texas Water Program
The Don’t Mess with Texas Water program works to help prevent illegal dumping that could contaminate surface waters in Texas. We work with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and participating communities to place signs on major highway water crossings that notify drivers of a toll-free number to call to report illegal dumping.
Get Involved
Are you a local government interested in participating? Call 512-239-0010 or e-mail us for more information.
Areas Participating in the Don't Mess with Texas Water Program
If your local government is not listed, see below for other illegal-dumping reporting programs.
Other Illegal-Dumping Reporting Programs
Many other illegal-dumping reporting programs exist throughout Texas. These links take you off the TCEQ website . If you are unable to find a program in your area, contact your local law enforcement or sheriff’s office for guidance.
Additional Information for Local Governments
Resources to manage municipal solid waste issues, including information on local government leaders, nonprofit organizations, and Texans that will help in the fight against litter and illegal dumping.
How to report illegal dumping in your community?
Write or call your local or county elected officials and let them know that illegal dumping is a concern in your community.
Why are illegal dumpers bad?
Also, illegal dumpers are potentially hurting honest businesses by dumping illegally, since they are not paying proper waste disposal fees. Illegal dump sites can lead to a number of health and safety concerns for both local citizens and the environment because they can contain broken glass, hazardous waste, exposed metals, ...
Why do cities spend millions of dollars cleaning up dump sites?
Studies have shown that illegal dumpers are much more likely to dump on property where a dumpsite already exists, causing cities to spend millions of dollars cleaning up illegal dumpsites annually to prevent more illegal dumping. Also, illegal dumpers are potentially hurting honest businesses by dumping illegally, ...
What is trash hauling?
Hauling trash for profit and dumping it on land that is not a legal landfill. Letting someone else dump waste on your property, whether they pay you or not. Pouring used motor oil or restaurant grease into storm drains or down manhole covers. Dumping mattresses, couches, or other furniture on the side of the road.
What is a letter mailed to a litterer in Texas?
A letter is mailed to the litterer along with a " Don't Mess With Texas" litterbag, to remind them to put their trash where it belongs.
What happens after a report is verified?
After verification, the report is forwarded to the proper authorities in that jurisdiction who will follow up, investigate, and take action. If you leave your name, phone number, and/or email, you will be contacted with a follow up of the investigation as well. You can also submit a report at Report a Litterer.
Can a litter violation be bumped up?
Upgrading Charges and Felonies: If a violator has been previously convicted of any litter violations, the punishment can be ungraded to the next highest category for any subsequent violation. (For example, if a person has a prior convinction of a Class A Misdemeanor, the next time they are convicted, the punishment will be bumped up to a State Jail Felony).
What happens if you dump in Texas?
According to the Texas Health and Safety Code, the punishment is more severe the more waste you dump.
Why is it important to report illegal dumping?
Reporting illegal dumping and being part of the solution will help keep your community clean.
What is Illegal Dumping?
Illegal dumping refers to the unlawful act of disposing of trash on private or public land where doing so is not permitted. This includes discarding items like appliances, tires, household garbage, construction debris, autos and yard waste. Illegally dumping trash is considered a crime and a threat to public health and safety.
What happens when illegal dumping occurs?
Most of us want to live in a safe and clean world, but when illegal dumping occurs, our communities and environment are threatened. Discarded items in locations such as the woods or vacant parking lots are eyesores and can be hazardous to people and wildlife.
How does illegal dumping affect the environment?
Illegal dumping has many negative effects on the environment. If non-biodegradable materials are dumped, certain toxic substances and chemicals can leach into the soil, contaminating the ground and nearby waterways. Plastic products can also pollute rivers, lakes, streams and oceans. Wildlife such as birds and fish can be harmed if they consume plastic waste or become entangled in it.
How much trash did Texas cleanup?
During cleanups, Texans collected more than 14 million pounds of trash and recyclables equivalent to the weight of 16,100 Texas longhorns.
Can you transport trash in the back of a car?
Never transport loose items, including trash and debris in the back of a vehicle.
What is a person's offense if they transport litter?
A person commits an offense if the person transports litter or other solid waste to a place that is not an approved solid waste site for disposal at the site.
How much does a gallons of litter weigh?
the litter or other solid waste is disposed for a commercial purpose and weighs more than five pounds but less than 200 pounds or has a volume of more than five gallons but less than 200 cubic feet.
Is disposal a commercial purpose?
the disposal is not for a commercial purpose.
Does the temporary storage section apply to the disposal of litter?
This section does not apply to the temporary storage for future disposal of litter or other solid waste by a person on land owned by that person, or by that person’s agent. The commission by rule shall regulate temporary storage for future disposal of litter or other solid waste by a person on land owned by the person or the person’s agent.
How much does it cost to register for TIDRC?
Need several classes this year? You can register as a TIDRC Continuing Student and access all of our current and coming online classes for 365 days from date of your registration by paying the annual fee of $150 per year. If your city has several officers who need classes, discounts are available for groups. Click here for more information and registration.
Can local governments control oil dumping?
Just about all kinds of illegal dumping can be controlled by local governments, including sloppy oil and gas waste hau ling as shown here in Jim Wells County. Local governments in the oil patch can exercise criminal enforcement powers to keep their communities clean (shown here: multiple criminal violations of Texas Water Code Chapter 29, handled at the county level). Classes on this and other kinds of dumping provide continuing education credits to code enforcement officers and registered sanitarians (approved by the Department of State Health Services) and peace officers (TCOLE).
What to do if you have a problem with litter?
have a problem with litter, illegal trash, or used oil dumping — call your city or county officials.
How to contact TCEQ?
In some cases, we may not be the appropriate agency to assist you. You should probably call some agency other than the TCEQ when you: 1 see pollution around an oil well — call the Railroad Commission district office. 2 have a problem with a septic system — call your city or county to find out if they can help. 3 have a problem with air pollution indoors — call your city or county to find out if they can help. 4 have a problem with noise pollution — call your local police to see if there is a noise ordinance in your city. 5 have a problem with litter, illegal trash, or used oil dumping — call your city or county officials. 6 live in one of the following cities or counties and you have an air pollution complaint — contact the local office listed below; these offices have the authority to handle air complaints in their areas.
What can you do with TCEQ?
In general, we at the TCEQ can help if you: see water that may be polluted. see or smell something unpleasant in the air. see land that may be contaminated. have problems with your drinking water. have information or evidence about an environmental problem.
What to do if you have a problem with air pollution?
have a problem with air pollution indoors — call your city or county to find out if they can help. have a problem with noise pollution — call your local police to see if there is a noise ordinance in your city. have a problem with litter, illegal trash, or used oil dumping — call your city or county officials.
