Illegal dumping in Reading is enforced under three layered authorities: (1) locally, QOL.003 prohibits improper disposal or dumping of rubbish or garbage on vacant, unoccupied, or other property, and QOL.005 prohibits throwing, dumping, placing, sweeping, or disposing of waste, trash, garbage, or rubbish on any public sidewalk, alley, street, bridge, public passageway, public parking area, or public property; (2) statewide, the 'Scattering Rubbish' offense at 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 makes dumping or depositing garbage, refuse, or rubbish on public or private property without the owner's consent a summary offense punishable by a fine of $50-$300 (first offense) and increased penalties on subsequent offenses; (3) under PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1701) civil penalties up to $300 per day per violation apply to municipal-waste dumping.
Reading enforces illegal dumping through a layered local-and-state framework. At the local level, two QOL provisions in Chapter 180, Part 12 cover the conduct. QOL.003 reads, in substance, that no person shall improperly dispose of rubbish or garbage on vacant, unoccupied, or other property - this captures the typical lot-dumping pattern (mattresses, furniture, construction debris dumped on a vacant lot or alley) and is enforced primarily through photographed evidence and witness identification. QOL.005 reads, in substance, that no person shall throw, dump, place, sweep, or dispose of any waste, trash, garbage, or rubbish upon any public sidewalk, alley, street, bridge, public passageway, public parking area, or on any public property - this captures sidewalk dumping, alley dumping, and street dumping. At the state level, 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 ('Scattering Rubbish') makes dumping or depositing garbage, refuse, rubbish, dead animals, junk, sweepings, ashes, or other materials on public or private property a summary offense; a first offense carries a fine of $50-$300 and up to 90 days' imprisonment, and subsequent offenses carry escalated penalties up to $1,000. Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. §6018.101) and PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1701) layer additional civil penalties up to $300 per violation per day for municipal-waste dumping, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection can pursue larger penalties for ongoing or commercial-scale violations. Reading Property Maintenance, Public Works, and the Reading Police Department coordinate enforcement; the City participates in the statewide Illegal Dump Free PA program administered by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Local QOL.003 and QOL.005 violations are issued as Quality of Life tickets under Chapter 180, Part 12 with photographed evidence and mailed to the offender; appeals are heard on Thursdays at City Hall. Subsequent or aggravated offenses are filed as summary criminal citations under 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 ('Scattering Rubbish') before the District Justice, carrying first-offense fines of $50-$300 plus up to 90 days' imprisonment, with subsequent offenses up to $1,000. Dumping in connection with operating an unlicensed waste-hauling business or in volumes that constitute solid-waste disposal triggers the Solid Waste Management Act (35 P.S. §6018.101) and Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.1701) civil-penalty regime with daily penalties up to $300 per violation. The City also pursues cost-recovery under the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. §7101, for clean-up of dumped material on City-owned or vacant property.
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