DuPage County, IL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Section 30-16(C) states flatly that "it shall be unlawful for any person to cause or allow the open dumping of waste on land within DuPage County," alongside related bans on operating an unpermitted waste management facility (30-16(A)) or one that violates its state or federal permit (30-16(B)). A companion section, 30-18, separately bars dumping landscape waste on public highways or other public property except at an Illinois EPA-approved site. Enforcement runs through the director of the county department responsible for solid waste, who under Section 30-11 investigates complaints, issues permits and can refer a case for prosecution; Section 30-29 gives the director's staff authority to inspect waste management facilities to check compliance.

Beyond a straight fine, Section 30-27 lets the director ask the DuPage County State's Attorney to prosecute in the name of the People of Illinois, and a court that finds a knowing or repeated violation can award the state's attorney reasonable attorney fees and expert-witness costs. Section 30-28 goes further for dumping that poses substantial danger to the environment or public health: the state's attorney can seek an immediate ex parte injunction, with a hearing required within three working days. For yard-waste-specific dumping under Sections 30-17 or 30-18, Section 30-26(C) additionally lets the court order the convicted person to remove and properly dispose of the illegally dumped material and tax supervision costs against them.