Illegal dumping in unincorporated Hidalgo County is a state offense under Texas Health & Safety Code Section 365.012, enforced by the county. Disposing of solid waste anywhere other than an approved site is prosecuted, and residents can report dumping to the county online.
Hidalgo County enforces the Texas Litter Abatement Act (Health & Safety Code Chapter 365) in its unincorporated areas. Under Section 365.012, a person commits an offense by disposing of, or allowing or permitting the disposal of, litter or solid waste at a place that is not an approved solid waste site, including within 300 feet of a public highway, on a right-of-way, or into water of the state. The county's Solid Waste program restates this, warning that disposing, receiving, transporting, or authorizing disposal at a non-approved site is an offense, as is using someone else's dumpster without permission. Because dumped trash blocks drainage and breeds mosquitoes, the county maintains an online Illegal Dumping Reporting form for confidential reports.
Under Section 365.012 penalties scale with weight or volume, from a Class C misdemeanor for small amounts up to a state jail felony for large quantities or commercial dumping, with fines and jail. The county investigates reports and may prosecute.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Hidalgo County's illegal dumping rules stack up against other locations.
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