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

030(A) bans throwing, dropping, depositing, discarding or otherwise disposing of litter on any road, street, alley, sidewalk or other public or private property, or in any waters within the county's jurisdiction, from a vehicle or otherwise. Three exceptions apply: disposal at a site the state or county has designated for garbage and refuse and the person is authorized to use it; placement into a litter receptacle in a way that prevents the litter escaping; or disposal by the property's own owner or with the owner's or tenant's consent, provided it does not create a public nuisance or violate other law.

Subsection B sets tiered misdemeanor fines: not less than $150 for a first offense, not less than $250 plus up to ten days in jail for a second offense, and not less than $500 plus up to 30 days in jail for each offense after that. A sentencing court may additionally order the violator to pick up and remove all litter they deposited, with the property owner's permission, and to pay court costs and statutory attorney fees. 020 sweep broadly: 'litter' covers containers, packaging, wrapping and printed matter, excluding mining, farming or manufacturing process waste, and 'person' includes individuals, corporations and government agencies alike.

200 runs through any Franklin County deputy sheriff, the sheriff, the county fire warden or deputy fire warden (the building inspector), or a litter control officer, any of whom may cite or arrest without a warrant.