Property owners, taxpayers, and local governments in Texas spend millions of dollars each year cleaning up illegal dumps. In Texas, illegal dumping of solid waste and litter is punishable by fines up to $10,000 and jail time of up to two years. Penalties increase if the materials dumped are oil, hazardous or medical waste, or if someone is injured or killed in the process. Illegal dumping threatens our health and safety. Pollutants can seep into rivers and groundwater. Dumps can be breeding grounds for rats and mosquitoes. Children playing near illegally dumped waste can be injured.

Illegally dumped trash is often materials – such as furniture, auto parts and old appliances – that people discard to avoid either disposal fees or the time and effort required for proper disposal, said environmental enforcement experts. The problem is complicated because there are few, if any, landfills in some counties – particularly rural ones – or the landfills are 30, 40 or more miles away.

While regional and local officials say illegal dumping is a chronic problem, they also acknowledge that it is a difficult one to assess. Keith Helmers, solid waste director for the Capital Area Council of Governments, estimates there are thousands of illegal dumps in the organization's region, which covers 10 Central Texas counties. But it's impossible to say more precisely.

You’ve got my attention…what can I do to help?

• Dispose of your litter properly and encourage others to do the same

• Spread the word to friends and neighbors that illegal dumping is a crime

• Organize volunteer cleanups of illegal dumpsites

• Write or call your local elected officials to let them know your concerns

• Report illegal dumping to the Regional Solid Waste Enforcement Task Force

Scroll down for a list of places to take your trash.

Local taxpayers pay the cost of cleaning up dumps on public lands and rights-of-way.

Report any illegal dumping to
1-877-NO-DUMPS.

LANDFILLS:

BFI, N. Austin Giles Rd, off 290
(512) 272-4329

WMI, N. Austin Giles Rd, off 290
(512) 272-4329

TDS, S. Austin 7500 FM 1327
(512) 243-4100

Wm. Co., Hutto CR 128 off 1660
(512) 759-8881

IESI*, S. Austin FM 812 (512) 243-6300

*This landfills handle only brush and construction debris

TRANSFER STATIONS

Bastrop Co. 601 Cool Water Dr. (512) 303-6686

IESI 2021 Hwy. 281 (830) 833-5862

BFI 2411 RR 963 (512) 756-6318

Hays Co. 1691 Carney, Wimberley (512) 847-3504

City of Llano Hwy 16 N. of Llano, city residents only

TDS-Eco Depot 620 & 71, Bee Cave (512) 263-5265

Travis Co. FM 1431, Jonestown (512) 267-1949

TDS-Georgetown 1 500 Terminal Dr. (512) 930-3637

SMALL COLLECTION CENTERS

Fayette County has facilities in Schulenberg, Flatonia, La Grange, and Warrenton that will accept bagged trash for a small fee. Call (409) 968-8446 for more information.

RECYCLING CENTERS

The 10-county CAPCO region has numerous recycling centers. To locate a recycling center in your area, contact the Coordinator of the CAPCO Solid Waste Program at
(512) 916-6170.