Jackson, TN Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Chapter 6 of Title 17 defines litter broadly at § 17-601 as garbage, refuse, trash, or other waste material that, if thrown, deposited, or left unattended, creates a nuisance or danger to public health, safety, or welfare. Section 17-602 prohibits throwing, dumping, or depositing litter on any public parkway, pathway, street, road, park, recreation area, or any other public or private property not designated for that use, and separately bars maintaining a litter nuisance on private property, improved or vacant. Section 17-603 extends the ban to litter thrown or strewn from a vehicle, whether intentional or not, and § 17-604 makes it prima facie evidence against the driver when litter comes from a car.

Section 17-605 creates a similar presumption when a dumped object bears a person's name. Anyone, resident or not, who witnesses vehicle littering can report the license plate and date under § 17-606, and that plate number becomes prima facie evidence against the registered owner. Prosecution under §§ 17-601 through 17-606 can be brought by a peace officer or by a private citizen willing to swear out a summons, per § 17-607. Penalties are set in § 17-608: a misdemeanor conviction carries a fine of not more than $50 per day the violation continues, with each day a separate offense, and vehicle-linked littering draws a separate $50 traffic citation that can support impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle under § 15-114 if left unpaid.

Section 17-609 also lets the city declare unauthorized litter a public nuisance and order abatement within 48 hours, recovering abatement costs, attorneys' fees, and court costs from the responsible person if the city has to do the cleanup itself.