Edmonds, WA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- ECC 7.70.030
- Misdemeanor fine
- Up to $1,000
- Jail exposure
- Up to 90 days
- Civil penalty
- $200-$2,000 per offense
- Adopted
- Ord. 2763, 1990
Summary
Dumping solid waste in Edmonds outside the state-adopted disposal rules is a crime under Edmonds City Code Section 7.70.030. Violations tied to RCW 70.95.240 or RCW 70.95.610 are misdemeanors carrying up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail, while violations tied to RCW 70.95.500 draw a civil penalty of $200 to $2,000 per offense.
A. It is unlawful for any person to dispose of any solid waste generated in the city of Edmonds and subject to this chapter unless they comply with the provisions of RCW 70.95.240, 70.95.500 and 70.95.610 which are hereby adopted by reference. B. Any violation of the provisions of RCW 70.95.240 shall be a misdemeanor, and any person found guilty thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in jail not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. ... Any violation of the provisions of RCW 70.95. ... 500 shall be punishable by a civil penalty which shall be no less than $200.00 nor more than $2,000 for each offense.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4444, passed August 3, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 7.70.030(A) makes it unlawful for anyone to dispose of solid waste generated in Edmonds unless they comply with RCW 70.95.240, RCW 70.95.500 and RCW 70.95.610, all of which the city adopts by reference into its own code. Section 7.70.030(B) then sets the punishment ladder: a violation of RCW 70.95.240 (illegal dumping on public or private property) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both. A violation of RCW 70.95.610 is a separate misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.
A violation of RCW 70.95.500 instead draws a civil penalty of not less than $200 and not more than $2,000 for each offense, rather than a criminal charge. This chapter, adopted by Ordinance 2763 in 1990, works together with Section 7.70.020's mandate that all solid waste generated in the city move through the Snohomish County-designated disposal system; illegal dumping is effectively the enforcement backstop for that mandatory-system rule. The city also has authority under Section 7.70.040 to carry out the interlocal agreement with Snohomish County that underlies the whole disposal framework, with the comprehensive solid waste management plan kept on file with the city clerk.
Violations & Fines
A misdemeanor conviction under RCW 70.95.240 or RCW 70.95.610 can bring a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both. A violation of RCW 70.95.500 is punished civilly rather than criminally, with a penalty of no less than $200 and no more than $2,000 assessed for each separate offense, on top of any cleanup costs the responsible party may owe.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle illegal dumping.