Cayuga County, NY Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Cayuga County Code § 230-3
- Enforcing agency
- Cayuga County Health Department
- Max fine
- $10,000 per violation
- Max jail term
- 1 year
- Continuing violation
- each day counted separately
- Exemption
- municipal landfills, temporary, Health Dept approval
Summary
It's unlawful to bring solid waste that originated outside Cayuga County into the county for disposal or burning at a landfill, incinerator or waste-to-energy facility, or to run a transfer station that ships in outside waste for out-of-county disposal. Violators face up to $10,000 in fines and a year in jail per offense, with each day a separate violation.
§ 230-3. Regulations. ... A. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other legal entity to bring into Cayuga County or cause to be brought into Cayuga County, for the purpose of disposal or burning at an incinerator, waste-to-energy facility or landfill, any solid waste which originated or was collected outside the territorial limits of Cayuga County. ... ... § 230-4. Penalties for offenses. Any violation of any provision of this article or any law, ordinance, rule, regulation or order adopted pursuant thereto shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000 and imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year in the Cayuga County Jail, for each and every violation. Each day during which a violation of this article continues shall be deemed a separate violation.
Full Breakdown
Article I of Chapter 230, the Imported Solid Waste article adopted in 1988, was written to protect Cayuga County's landfill capacity from waste generated elsewhere. Section 230-3 makes it unlawful in three distinct ways: bringing outside-originated solid waste into the county for disposal or burning at an incinerator, waste-to-energy facility or landfill; operating a transfer station that moves outside-origin waste through the county toward disposal outside the county; and actually disposing of or burning outside-origin waste that was brought in for that purpose. 'Solid waste' is defined by cross-reference to the material the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation classifies as solid waste under 6 NYCRR Part 360.
The Cayuga County Health Department enforces the article under § 230-6, and § 230-5 allows the Department to grant a municipally operated landfill a temporary exemption to import waste when necessary for the landfill's efficient operation. The ban does not reach waste generated inside Cayuga County moving between facilities within the county; it targets waste crossing the county line inbound for disposal here.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of the Imported Solid Waste article, including bringing in, transferring or disposing of out-of-county waste, is punishable under § 230-4 by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to one year in the Cayuga County Jail, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a landfill outside Cayuga County send its trash here?
Who enforces the ban on importing outside solid waste?
What's the penalty for illegally dumping outside waste in Cayuga County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cayuga County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Cayuga County to another location·View the New York trash & recycling overview
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