Midland, TX Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Max fine
- $2,000 per offense
- Continuing violation
- Each day = separate offense
- Covers
- Hazardous, radioactive, noxious waste
- Stacking
- State/federal sanctions can also apply
Summary
Midland bans dumping hazardous, radioactive or noxious material anywhere in the city; each day the material stays is treated as a separate misdemeanor punishable by up to $2,000.
No person shall dump, throw, place or otherwise dispose of any material either in solution or solid form containing any type or amount of waste deemed hazardous or categorized as a waste requiring special handling and/or disposal by current EPA, TNRCC, TDH, or local regulations. Any noxious or malodorous substance, which either singularly or by interaction with other substances is capable of causing objectionable odors, or hazard to life is prohibited.
Any radioactive wastes (liquid or solid) greater than allowable releases specified by current United States Bureau of Standards Handbooks dealing with the handling and release of radioactivity is prohibited.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $2000.00, and each and every day's violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
In addition, certain federal, state, and local civil and/or criminal sanctions may apply.
(Ordinance 7764, sec. 1, adopted 9/8/1998)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Midland Code § 8-6-21 prohibits dumping any material 'deemed hazardous or categorized as a waste requiring special handling' under current EPA, TNRCC, TDH or local rules, plus any noxious or malodorous substance capable of causing objectionable odors or a hazard to life. It separately bars radioactive waste above federal release limits. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000, and 'each and every day's violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.' The section also notes that state and federal civil or criminal sanctions can apply on top of the city penalty.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor, fine up to $2,000; each day the prohibited material remains dumped counts as its own separate offense, so penalties compound daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as illegal dumping under Midland's code?
How much can I be fined?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Midland
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Midland to another location·View the Texas trash & recycling overview
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