| Pennsylvania Laws Against Littering and Illegal Dumping | ||
| Law | Penalty | Agency |
| PA
Vehicle Code, Title 75, Chapter 37 Covers litter and waste dropped, thrown or deposited from a vehicle that lands on a road right-of-way. Vehicle owners are responsible for anything thrown from their vehicles, even if the owner wasn't driving, or wasn't in the vehicle. |
The
person who does so is guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction,
may be sentenced to either or both: 1. To pay a fine of not more than $300. 2. To pick up and remove litter from public or private property...for not less than 8 hours nor more than 16 hours for the first conviction. |
Local
Police
PA Bureau of State
Parks |
|
PA Crimes Code, Title 18, Chapter 65 Covers illegally deposited trash that lands on private property. This can include someone illegally disposing their own trash, or someone who is paid to dispose trash. |
The person who does so is guilty of a summary offense for the first offense and upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $300 or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. |
PA State Police
PA Bureau of State
Parks |
|
Act 97 Environmental Protection This code makes it illegal for anyone to haul waste anywhere other than to a facility which has a DEP permit to operate, and it requires vehicles used to haul waste to be appropriately marked and otherwise restricted. This code also makes it illegal for anyone to store municipal waste on their property for more than 1 year without a permit. Act 394 Clean
Streams Law (CSL) — Act 101 Municipal
waste Planning and Recycling Act |
As a summary offense, penalty is between $100 and $1,000 per incident. As
a civil penalty, fine can be as high as $25,000 per incident.
Clean Streams Law — Up to $10,000 per incident.
Act 101 — Vehicles can be seized for dumping without a permit. |
PA Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste Management |
|
PA Code, Title 17, Chapters 11 & 21 Conservation and Natural Resources State Parks & State Forests Rules and Regulations Covers littering and dumping in State Parks and State Forests. |
As high as $300. | PA Bureau of State Parks |
PA Fish and Boat Code, Title 30, Chapter 25 Covers litter and trash dumps that impact surface water, especially when trash impacts trout streams. |
Any person in violation commits a summary offense and can be fined between $50 and $200 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days. An additional penalty of $10 for each item or piece of litter may be imposed. | PA Fish and Boat Commission |
|
PA Game and Wildlife Code, Title 34, Chapter 25 Covers litter and illegal dumping on State Game lands and on land open to public hunting. |
The violation is a summary offense of the third degree resulting in a $300 fine which can be doubled for subsequent offenses. An additional fine of $10/item can also be imposed. | PA Fish and Boat Commission |
Local Ordinances Cover improper disposal and storage of waste. Ordinances may vary in different municipalities. |
Varies by municipality. |
Local Code Enforcement Offices
Local Solid Waste Authorities |
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This page last updated November 7, 2002. |