Peoria, IL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Peoria has tracked illegal dumping as a chronic neighborhood-quality issue, particularly in vacant lots in the East Bluff, South Side, and West Bluff. The City's enforcement strategy combines (1) GFL's free unlimited bulky waste pickup (removing the most common excuse for illegal dumping); (2) Code Enforcement Office investigation of dumping reports; (3) coordination with Peoria Police Department for surveillance of repeat dump sites; and (4) referral to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for larger commercial dumping cases. Local violations under Sec. 13-60 carry fines tied to Sec. 1-5 of the Code; the public-nuisance abatement procedure (Sec. 15-96 et seq.) allows the City to perform clean-up and lien the cost on the property owner if the dumping occurred on private property without the owner's knowledge but the owner subsequently fails to abate. State law (415 ILCS 5/21) is the heavy-penalty backstop: open dumping of waste is a Class A misdemeanor for the first or second offense (minimum $500 fine); dumping on another person's property is a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense, escalating to Class A and then Class 4 felony for the third or subsequent within five years (Section 21 of the Act). Dumping more than 250 cubic feet without a permit triggers Class 4 felony with up to $25,000 per day in fines; repeat offenses become Class 3 felony with up to $50,000 per day. The IEPA may issue administrative citations carrying $1,500 first-offense and $3,000 subsequent-offense penalties separate from criminal prosecution. Reporting: Peoria Code Enforcement at 309-494-8617, Peoria Police at 309-673-4521 (non-emergency), or the IEPA Bureau of Land at 217-524-3300. Hazardous waste dumping is referred to the IEPA Emergency Response Unit (24-hour spill line 217-782-3637).