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Thurston County, WA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing law
TCC 8.34.060 & 8.34.080
Penalty, under 5 tons
$500 per violation
Penalty, 5-10 tons
$1,000 per violation
Penalty, over 10 tons
$1,500 per violation
Repeat violation
Double the base rate

Summary

Dumping solid waste anywhere except a designated county transfer station or drop-box facility is unlawful, and Thurston County backs the ban with civil penalties tied to the size of the vehicle used.

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

In addition to, or as an alternative to, any other penalty provided by this chapter or by law, any person who violates Section 8.34.060, Unlawful removal of solid waste from county, is subject to civil penalty as follows:1.Penalties for violations will be assessed at the following rates:a.Where the vehicle used is less than five tons gross weight, the penalty will be assessed at the rate of five hundred dollars per violation.b.Where the vehicle used is greater than five tons gross weight but less than ten tons gross weight, the penalty will be assessed at the rate of one thousand dollars per violation.c.Where the vehicle used is greater than ten tons gross weight, the penalty will be assessed at the rate of one thousand five hundred dollars per violation.2.Second, third or repeated, but separate, violations of a like nature, by the same person, are repeat violations. Penalties for repeat violations will be assessed at two times the rates identified in Section 8.34.080(b)(1).C.This section does not exempt an offender from any other suit, prosecution or penalty provided in any section of this Code or as otherwise provided by law, including but not limited to RCW 9.91.130 (prohibition of solid waste disposal in charitable donation boxes), RCW 46.61.645 and 70A.200.060 (prohibitions on littering and illegal dumping). (Ord. No. 15957, § 9, 12-15-2020)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).

Full Breakdown

Thurston County Code 8.34.060 makes it unlawful to transport, transfer, deliver, or deposit solid waste generated in the county anywhere but a designated system disposal site: the county's Rainier and Rochester drop-box facilities or the Hogum Bay Road transfer station in Lacey. Under Section 8.34.080, the Department of Public Works enforces violations with civil penalties scaled to the hauling vehicle: $500 for loads under five tons, $1,000 for five-to-ten-ton vehicles, and $1,500 for anything heavier. Repeat violations by the same person double those rates. Violators can still face separate prosecution under state littering and illegal-dumping statutes.

Violations & Fines

Dumping outside a designated disposal site draws a $500-$1,500 civil penalty per load depending on vehicle weight, doubled for repeat offenses, plus possible state littering charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I legally dispose of solid waste in Thurston County?
Only at a designated system disposal site: the Rainier or Rochester drop-box facilities, or the Waste and Recovery Center transfer station on Hogum Bay Road in Lacey.
How much is the fine for illegal dumping?
Civil penalties run $500 for vehicles under five tons, $1,000 for five-to-ten-ton loads, and $1,500 for heavier vehicles, doubling for repeat violations by the same person.
Can I still be charged under state law too?
Yes. Section 8.34.080(C) preserves prosecution under RCW 46.61.645 and 70A.200.060, Washington's littering and illegal-dumping statutes, on top of the county's civil penalty.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Thurston County

All Thurston County rules

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