Illegal Dumping: Allentown vs Bethlehem
How do illegal dumping rules compare between Allentown, PA and Bethlehem, PA?
Allentown, PA
Lehigh County
No data available yet for Allentown.
Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh County
Illegal dumping in Bethlehem is enforced under three layered authorities: (1) locally, §1162.07(a) prohibits any person from depositing, throwing, placing, or causing to be deposited any solid waste on any street, private alley, vacant lot, public area, or waterway within the City - enforceable under §1162.99 at $200/$500/$1,000 per violation; (2) statewide, the 'Scattering Rubbish' summary offense at 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 covers dumping or depositing garbage, refuse, rubbish, dead animals, junk, sweepings, or ashes on public or private property without the owner's consent, with first-offense fines of $50-$300 plus up to 90 days; (3) PA Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. §6018.101) and Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1701) civil penalties up to $300 per day per violation for municipal-waste dumping.
View full Bethlehem rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Allentown | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Local Dumping Prohibition | - | Codified Ordinance §1162.07(a) (Article 1162) |
| Local Penalty (§1162.99) | - | $200 / $500 / $1,000 + up to 90 days |
| State Summary Offense | - | 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 (Scattering Rubbish) |
| First-Offense State Fine | - | $50-$300 + up to 90 days imprisonment |
| Act 101 Civil Penalty | - | Up to $300/day/violation (53 P.S. §4000.1701) |
| Recyclables in Landfill Ban | - | §933.08(f) - separate offense under §933.99 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Allentown FAQ
No FAQs available.
Bethlehem FAQ
What's the penalty for illegal dumping in Bethlehem?
It depends on which authority charges the case. A local citation under §1162.07(a) carries the §1162.99 schedule of $200 (first), $500 (second), $1,000 (third+) per violation, with each day a separate offense. Subsequent or aggravated dumping is filed as a summary criminal offense under 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 ('Scattering Rubbish'), carrying $50-$300 (first offense) plus up to 90 days' imprisonment, with subsequent offenses up to $1,000. Commercial-scale dumping triggers PA DEP enforcement under 35 P.S. §6018.101 and Act 101 civil penalties up to $300 per day per violation.
Where do I report illegal dumping in Bethlehem?
Call the Bethlehem Service Center at 610-865-7000 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), or the Department of Community and Economic Development for code-enforcement reports. For active dumping in progress, call Bethlehem Police non-emergency. Under §1162.04(h), any articles found within a waste container, recycling container, or garbage bag displaying the name or address of a person or persons shall be presumed to be the property of such person - so photographs that capture identifying mail or labels are particularly useful evidence. The City also coordinates with the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful 'Illegal Dump Free PA' program.
Is dumping yard waste or trash on a vacant lot illegal?
Yes - even small-volume dumping on a vacant lot or alley without the owner's consent violates §1162.07(a) of the Codified Ordinances and the state Scattering Rubbish offense at 18 Pa.C.S. §6501. The state statute applies to dumping on public OR private property without consent, so the fact that the lot looks abandoned does not provide a defense. Subsequent offenses under §6501 carry increased fines up to $1,000 and the property owner of the dumped-on lot may also pursue civil cost-recovery for clean-up. Additionally, under §1162.07(b)(3), storing containers for solid waste, ashes, rubbish, manure, or garbage on any street, alley, right of way, or vacant lot is itself a separate violation.
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