Have you ever encountered a used couch mysteriously discarded in a field, or had to roll away an old car tire that has become a mosquito haven? These are examples of illegal dumping, and Texans are uniting in the fight against such activities wherever we find it.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality defines illegal dumping as the disposal, transportation for disposal, or allowance of disposal of litter or solid waste any place other than a landfill or other approved waste site. The most common types of illegal dumping involve items that are difficult to dispose of, such as tires, landscape waste, construction debris, appliances, furniture, household garbage, chemicals, batteries, and fluorescent lights. Violations range from tossing litter out of a car window to disposing of old cars on private or public property, dumping oil or other chemicals down storm drains, and abandoning furniture in any unauthorized place.
The 2019 Regional Solid Waste Grants Program Report states that programs across the state have had a positive impact on dumped waste, including:
If you have an item that can’t easily be recycled or thrown in the trash, consider the following:
TCEQ is available 24 hours a day to receive complaints under our authority. Texans can use our online complaint form, or call toll-free at 888-777-3186 to make an environmental complaint. TCEQ investigates every complaint it receives! For more information, read about our enforcement process.
In most cases, you can contact your city or county government for assistance or check with resources through your regional Council of Government.
