Pierce County, WA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- County dumping
- Misdemeanor (PCC 8.32.020)
- State litter law
- RCW 70A.200.060
- Over 10 cu yd
- Gross misdemeanor
- Restitution
- Up to 4x cleanup cost
Summary
Dumping garbage, sewage or debris on any street, public property or private property without the owner's consent is a misdemeanor under Pierce County Code 8.32.020. State law RCW 70A.200.060 layers on penalties from a civil infraction up to a gross misdemeanor plus cleanup restitution, depending on the volume of litter.
Every person who places, deposits or dumps... any sewage, sludge, accumulation of human excrement or garbage in or upon any street, alley, public highway or road in common use, or upon any public park or other public property... or on any private property without the consent of the owner, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-515, and legislation passed through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PCC 8.32.020 makes it a misdemeanor to dump "any sewage, sludge, accumulation of human excrement or garbage in or upon any street, alley, public highway or road... or upon any public park or other public property... or on any private property without the consent of the owner." Separately, PCC 8.30.030 makes it unlawful to dispose of solid waste except at a facility designated by the county Director, a knowing violation being a misdemeanor under PCC 8.30.050. Washington's Model Litter Control Act, RCW 70A.200.060, escalates penalties by volume: a class 2 civil infraction for one cubic foot or less, a misdemeanor above that under ten cubic yards, and a gross misdemeanor over ten cubic yards, plus a cleanup restitution payment.
Violations & Fines
Illegal dumping is a misdemeanor under PCC 8.32.020 and PCC 8.30.050. Under RCW 70A.200.060 offenders also pay a cleanup restitution payment (up to four times cleanup cost) and may be ordered to remove the litter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I dump trash on the roadside in Pierce County?
How do I report illegal dumping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pierce County
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