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

Section 9-60-2(A) makes it unlawful to throw, dump, deposit or cause litter to be thrown, dumped or deposited on any property, improved or vacant, or on a public parkway, pathway, street, road, park or recreation area, or any other public property, unless that site is designated for such use; subsection B separately bars letting high weeds or grass accumulate into urban blight. 'Litter' is defined in § 9-60-1 to include garbage, refuse, rubbish and all other waste materials, and 'refuse' covers any worthless leaving including bulky items, industrial and hazardous waste.

Enforcement leans on presumptions: under § 9-60-3, an item of litter found on another's property or on public land that bears a person's name is prima facie evidence that person dumped it, and under § 9-60-4, litter thrown from a vehicle is presumed to have been thrown by the driver. Section 9-60-5 lets any witness, resident or not, report a vehicle's license plate, date and time to police or another local law enforcement authority, and that plate number then becomes prima facie evidence against the registered owner; the reporting witness must be willing to testify if the case is prosecuted.

Prosecution under §§ 9-60-1 through 9-60-5 can be started by a peace officer who witnessed the offense or found identifying evidence, or by a private citizen willing to make the initial charge and testify, through a summons issued by a court clerk under § 9-60-6.