Salt Lake City, UT Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Illegal dumping is taken seriously in unincorporated Salt Lake County due to impacts on canyons, open space, riparian corridors along the Jordan River, and foothill wildlife habitat. State law under Utah Code Section 76-10-807 makes dumping waste on public or private property without permission a criminal offense, with penalties scaling by volume. Dumping less than 100 pounds or 20 cubic feet is a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 6 months in jail and a 1000 dollar fine. Dumping 100 pounds or more but less than 500 pounds is a Class A misdemeanor with up to 364 days in jail and a 2500 dollar fine. Dumping 500 pounds or more or any amount of hazardous waste is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and fines up to 5000 dollars, plus restitution for cleanup. County ordinance adds civil penalties for littering, unlawful accumulation of waste on one property, and failure to maintain premises in sanitary condition. Common illegal dumping hotspots include canyon pull-offs, BLM and Forest Service access roads in the Oquirrh and Wasatch foothills, and vacant lots. Residents can report dumping to the Salt Lake County Health Department or dedicated County tip line, and anonymous tips leading to convictions may qualify for a reward. Property owners who discover dumping on their land should document it with photographs before removal and report to authorities. Contractors who transport waste must use licensed landfills and retain disposal receipts.