Code Corner: Illegal Dumping and Littering

Spring clean the right way

Township code prohibits illegal dumping and littering

By Andrea Iglar

As spring cleaning fever kicks in and we start thinning junk from our closets and garages, let's remember that everyone is responsible for proper waste disposal.

Unfortunately, some people intentionally litter roads, hillsides and waterways with household trash, construction debris, tires, furniture, appliances, mattresses, TVs and other waste. This improper, criminal practice is called illegal dumping.

South Fayette Township code prohibits anyone from throwing any kind of debris into public roads, streets, thoroughfares, ditches, sewers, streams, and private or public property.

Each April, South Fayette Township employees help remove litter from roadsides. In 2022, from left, Dan Dernosek, Jamie Campbell, Ian McNeill, Abbey Scheerer and Dana Korbe clean up along Boyce Road.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Illegal dumping can be enforced by officers of the South Fayette Township Police Department or the Building and Code Department.

To issue a citation, an officer normally would need to observe someone in the act of dumping or obtain physical, photo or video evidence of the violation taking place.

The township can cite anyone caught dumping and require them to remove the debris within 24 hours.

Alternatively, the township may have the debris cleaned up and then collect the removal cost from the violator.

If someone is cited, a guilty verdict in magisterial court could result in a fine of between $25 and $1,000, plus court costs, for each offense. Each day that a violation occurs, or continues to occur, can be counted as a separate offense.

Police officers also may cite people for littering from their vehicles under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75).

The public can report illegal dumping using the township's online Request Tracker: southfayettepa.com/request. If you see illegal dumping in progress, please call 911 immediately to report it.

The Right Approach

Most everyday trash can be disposed of during weekly curbside collection.

South Fayette Township has a contract with Waste Management for curbside collection of garbage and recycling at single-family homes and multi-family residences with four or fewer units.

Slam Dunk the Junk: Public Works employee Alan Desmet tosses a trash bag into a dumpster last spring.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

The services are paid through township taxes, with no fee charged to residents. The service includes curbside disposal of a limited number of bulk items such as furniture.

Special collections of TVs, electronics, household glass bottles and jars, and hazardous household chemicals are held periodically by government agencies, environmental nonprofits and other organizations. South Fayette advertises these options on the township website: southfayettepa.com/recycle.

Residents may rent dumpsters during home remodeling, moving, spring cleaning or other projects that generate more waste than usual. Waste Management offers rental options at wm.com

Owners of apartment buildings, businesses and other organizations pay for commercial dumpsters.

South Fayette police Lt. John Leininger warned that throwing trash into a dumpster that you don't pay for could result in being cited for theft of services—the practice of using a paid service without paying for it.

"It's illegal to throw garbage into someone else's dumpster," he said.

Illegal Dumping and Littering

Code:

South Fayette Township General Legislation, Chapter 148: Dumping and Littering

Purpose:

Prohibits illegal dumping of debris into roads, sewers, streams, ditches, and public or private property

Enforcement:

South Fayette Township Police Department or Building and Code Department

Code Violation:

$25 to $1,000, plus court costs, per offense

View Code:

southfayettepa.com/dumping