Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
MSB § 8.05.080
Prohibited
Discarding litter on rights-of-way or borough land
Legal disposal
Receptacle, transfer site, or disposal facility
Enforcement
Infraction, MSB § 8.05.105
Officer authority
Citations under MSB § 8.05.110

Summary

Throwing trash on the road or on borough land is banned outright. MSB § 8.05.080 prohibits disposing of solid waste or litter on public rights-of-way or borough lands unless it goes into a maintained receptacle or a borough-designated disposal facility or transfer site.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A person may not throw, drop, discard, or otherwise dispose of solid waste or other litter on public rights-of-way or borough lands unless the litter is placed in a receptacle maintained for the deposit of refuse or litter, or in a borough designated solid waste disposal facility or transfer site.

Full Breakdown

080 (Littering Prohibited) bars a person from throwing, dropping, discarding, or otherwise disposing of solid waste or other litter on public rights-of-way or borough lands, with a narrow carve-out: litter may be placed in a receptacle maintained for the deposit of refuse or litter, or taken to a borough-designated solid waste disposal facility or transfer site. 050, which separately lists prohibited acts at those facilities such as discharging a firearm, damaging signs or fencing, entering outside posted hours, or dumping material with a special waste area designation somewhere other than its designated area.

Together these sections cover both dumping in the open, on roadsides or borough-owned land, and dumping the wrong material or in the wrong spot even at an authorized facility. 110.

Violations & Fines

Illegal dumping or littering under MSB § 8.05.080 is an infraction under MSB § 8.05.105, with remedies, enforcement actions, and penalties consistent with MSB Chapter 1.45. The borough's enforcement officer, designated by the manager under MSB § 8.05.110, may issue a citation, and that citation filed in district court is treated as a lawful complaint for prosecution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to dump trash on the side of a Mat-Su road?
Yes. MSB § 8.05.080 prohibits throwing, dropping, or discarding solid waste or litter on public rights-of-way or borough lands. The only lawful disposal points are a maintained receptacle, a designated transfer site, or the borough's disposal facility.
Who enforces illegal dumping in the borough?
A manager-designated enforcement officer, under MSB § 8.05.110, has authority to issue citations, summons, complaints, or notices of violation for littering and dumping violations, and a filed citation is treated as a lawful complaint for prosecution in district court.
What is the penalty for illegal dumping under MSB § 8.05.080?
Violations of the littering section are infractions under MSB § 8.05.105, with remedies, enforcement, and penalties consistent with the terms of MSB Chapter 1.45, the borough's general infraction and penalty chapter.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

All Matanuska-Susitna Borough rules

Compare Matanuska-Susitna Borough to another location·View the Alaska trash & recycling overview

Get notified when Illegal Dumping in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.