Illegal
Dumping
The Problem with
Illegal Dumping.
Grays Harbor County
offers an abundance of outdoor activities to occupy one's leisure time.
However, many roads are closed to public use due to garbage and trash
being illegally dumped along them.
Studies by the Public Works Department show that most illegal dumping
is caused by individuals who do not take the time and responsibility
to properly dispose of their own garbage. The most common instances
are when individuals leave their garbage behind upon moving to a new
location, expecting someone else to dispose of it; or having another
person haul and dispose of garbage without requiring proof of proper
disposal.
Illegal Dumping Laws
Grays Harbor County
Litter Control Ordinance #250 places upon all persons the responsibility
of properly disposing of their own litter.
Proper disposal means at a permitted landfill, transfer station or recycling
center, or hauling by a licensed hauler.
On Littering: Section Four provides that no person shall throw,
drop, deposit, discard or dispose of litter upon any property…whether
from a vehicle or otherwise.
On Improper Disposal of Litter: Section Six states that it shall
be a violation for any person to abandon litter in a residence, vehicle
or business. It shall also be a violation to allow another person to
haul litter away unless that person obtains written proof of proper
disposal at a permitted landfill or transfer station.
On Evidence: Section Fourteen provides that when litter dumped
in violation of Ordinance #250 contains sufficient evidence, there shall
be a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the litter committed the
unlawful act of dumping or was not responsible for proper disposal.
On Violations: Section Sixteen makes littering a Class 3 Civil
Infraction as provided in RCW 7.80.120 for a person to litter in an
amount less than or equal to one cubic foot and a Class 1 Civil Infraction
for an amount greater than one cubic foot. A person found to be in violation
of Ordinance #250 shall pay a litter cleanup fee of $25.00 per cubic
foot of litter. In addition, violators may also be guilty of second-degree
criminal trespass. For a complete copy of the Litter Control Ordinance,
contact Grays Harbor County Public Services at 360-249-4222.
The Solution to Illegal
Dumping
When moving to a new
house or selling a vehicle, be sure to clean out all the garbage and
trash before the new owner takes possession. No one likes to be forced
into paying for litter that belongs to someone else. If you must hire
another person to haul trash for you, be sure to get the person's name,
address and vehicle license number and require that a disposal receipt
is brought back to you. Even if someone else illegally dumps your garbage,
you can still be held responsible.
Remember, the best way to be sure your garbage is properly disposed
of is to take it to a permitted disposal site yourself. It's that easy!
To report illegal dumping call Grays Harbor County Public Services at
360-249-4222 or the Harbor Dispatch Center at 360-533-8765. To report
highway littering violations or unsecured loads, call the Washington
State Patrol at 360-533-5707 or 1-800-283-7808. Provide date, location,
license number and a description of the offense.
You may also call
the new litter hotline at 1-866-LITTER-1
[1-866-548-8371] or 711 (TTY relay), to report
violators. For more information on Washington State’s "Litter
and It Will Hurt Campaign".
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