Fishers, IN Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Illegal dumping in Fishers is governed primarily by Indiana state law, supported by the city's property-maintenance and nuisance authority. Under Indiana Code 35-45-3-2, a person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally places or leaves refuse on the property of another, except in a container provided for refuse, commits littering, a Class B infraction. The offense escalates to a Class A infraction, carrying a judgment of up to $1,000, if the refuse is placed within 100 feet of a body of water under the jurisdiction of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The statute defines 'refuse' to include solid and semisolid wastes, dead animals, and offal, and provides that littering from a moving vehicle is prima facie evidence the operator committed the offense. At the local level, accumulated trash, debris, and dumped material on a property are also a violation of the Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 157), which requires exterior premises to be kept from blighting or deteriorating the neighborhood; the city can issue a notice, abate the nuisance, and, for abandoned property, place a lien to recover its costs. Residents should dispose of waste through the citywide Republic program, schedule bulk pickups rather than dumping large items, and use Hamilton County drop-offs for materials not accepted curbside. Suspected illegal dumping can be reported to Fishers Code Enforcement at 317-595-3120 or to police for state-law violations.