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Temple, TX Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

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

Key Facts

Prohibited
Garbage, junk, furniture, brush in streets/alleys
Max fine
$2,000 per violation
Continuing violation
Each day is separate offense
Enforced by
Solid Waste Services / police

Summary

Temple's Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful to place, store, or abandon garbage, junk, furniture, appliances, or brush in any alley or street within city limits, and separately bans scavenging from refuse and recycling containers.

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, store or abandon garbage, lumber, junk, refuse, furniture, appliances, leaves or brush within any alley or upon any street within the city limits.

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: Reformat).

Full Breakdown

Section 15-16 of Temple's Code of Ordinances prohibits placing, storing, or abandoning garbage, lumber, junk, refuse, furniture, appliances, leaves, or brush in any alley or on any street within city limits: covering the classic illegal-dumping scenario of leaving trash on public right-of-way instead of using collection service. Chapter 15 is one of the chapters the city's general penalty section flags for enhanced fines, and Solid Waste Services staff may inspect containers and file complaints against violators.

Violations & Fines

Fine up to $2,000 per violation under the Code's general penalty section (Sec. 1-9), since Chapter 15 carries the enhanced penalty tier; each day a violation continues is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to dump trash in a Temple alley?
Yes. City Code § 15-16 makes it unlawful to place, store, or abandon garbage, junk, furniture, appliances, or brush in any alley or street within city limits.
What's the penalty for illegal dumping in Temple?
Chapter 15 carries the Code's enhanced penalty tier, up to $2,000 per violation under Sec. 1-9, with each day of the violation counted as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Temple

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsBulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsBuilding Safety: Building PermitsSignificant RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsLight RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Artificial TurfFew RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Weed OrdinancesSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree TrimmingSome RestrictionsBusiness Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail LicenseSome Restrictions

All Temple rules

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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Bell County handle illegal dumping.

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