What is litter?

According to the Texas DOT and the Texas Litter Abatement Act litter is::

• Decayable waste from a public or private establishment, residence, or restaurant, including animal and vegetable material.When it's in the can, it becomes garbage. Anywhere else, it's litter.
  
• Nondecayable solid waste, including: paper, rags, boxes, wood, furniture, rubber, plastics, yard trimmings and leaves, glass, pots, cans, and metal furniture, discarded or worn out appliances, vehicles, vehicle parts, and machinery.

Fines and Penalties

According to the Texas Litter Abatement Act:

• It is a Class C misdemeanor to illegally dispose of litter that weighs 15 pounds or less or has a volume of 13 gallons or less.
  
• It is a Class A misdemeanor to illegally dispose of litter that weighs 500 pounds or more or has a volume of 100 cubic feet or more.

You can be fined up to $500. Repeat the offense, and you could face a fine of up to $2,000 and 180 days in jail. If a person has been previously convicted of violating this Act, that person's punishment will be upgraded to the next highest category for any subsequent violation of this Act. In other words if someone was convicted of a Class A misdemeanor previously they would now be subject to a third-degree felony.

Here are some common violations:

• Throwing litter out of a vehicle.
  
• Pouring used motor oil or restaurant grease into storm drains or down manhole covers. It is also illegal to dump oil on the ground.
  
• Dumping cars into a rivers.
  
• Hauling trash for profit and dumping it in any place that is not a legal landfill. Commercial dumping is subject to increased fines and penalties.
  
• Letting someone else dump trash on your property.

Litter Prevention and Cleanup Programs in Texas

Adopt-a-Highway

This international program originated in Texas and is one of most successful public-private programs in the nation. Groups, have the opportunity to adopt a two-mile section of highway for a minimum of 2 years. The name of the group sponsoring the strech of highway gets their name featured on signs and are provided permits, litterbags, safety vests and training by the Adopt-a-Highway program.

Texas Trash-Off

Trash-Off has become one of the largest cleanup events of its kind in the U.S. Started in 1986, thousands of volunteers give their time to clean up after the 20+ million residents of Texas. It's an annual event to encourage motorists to refrain from littering and clean up over 500 tons of litter at each event. More than 1,700 Adopt-a-Highway groups and 150 communities participate to keep Texas beautiful!

Report a Litterer Program

Help stop littering by reporting offenses to the Texas Department of Transportation. The sight of someone throwing trash out their window makes most Texans' mad. Instead of confronting the individual, do what the Texas DOT suggests and givew them a call with the following details:

• Texas license plate number (Texas plates only)
• Make of vehicle
• Time and Date
• Location
• Who tossed trash (driver, passenger or other)
• Description of what was tossed.

The TxDOT compares the information with vehicle database records and sends the litterer a Don't Mess with Texas litterbag along with a letter reminding them to keep their trash off of our roads.

Best of all, you can feel good about doing something to clean up the Lone Star state.

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What you can do to keep Texas clean:

 

• Don't transport debris in the back of your pickup or trailer unless it is securely covered.
  
• Spread the word that illegal dumping is a crime.
  
• Use a litterbag in your vehicle. Besides, it keeps you vehicle from looking like a dump.
  
• Set an example by putting your trash where it belongs. There is only one place to legally throw your trash away on a Texas highway. Thats in a litter barrel. Look for rest area, picnic or a sign like this one to find a litter barrel.
  
• When placing trash into a dumpster use bags and secure with twist ties before depositing. When dump trucks load the debris it will prevent garbage from blowing out.

• Report illegal dumping to your local or county litter abatement or environmental health department and let them know when litter and illegal dumping in your community are major concerns.
  
• Take down the license plate numbers of any vehicles you see transporting trash without a cover and report it to the Texas Department of Transportation's Report a Litterer Program.
  
• Organize and participate in volunteer programs such as Adopt-a-Highway, Adopt-a-Beach, and Keep Texas Beautiful.