Cowlitz County, WA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

230, in Article III of the Solid Waste Management chapter adopted by Ordinance 04-061, makes it unlawful for any person to dump or deposit solid waste onto or under the ground surface or into the county's waters, whether from a vehicle or otherwise, except at a county-approved disposal site. The prohibition also covers unauthorized dumping into a container owned or leased by someone else, such as a neighbor's or business's dumpster. If an inspector finds suspected regulated dangerous or infectious waste during a dumping investigation, the property owner or occupant can be required to segregate and hold it, and to pay for testing if the generator is unknown.

240 creates a rebuttable presumption that a person named on mail or other identifying material found in the dumped waste is responsible for the violation; if no responsible party can be identified, the property owner becomes responsible for legal disposal. 250, the Department must investigate and attempt to serve notice requesting voluntary correction, generally allowing at least 20 days unless the waste poses an immediate hazard. 06 CCC, and paying the fine does not excuse the violator from still cleaning up the waste. 220, which carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.