Walton County, FL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

The Board of County Commissioners created the sanitation department to protect public health because solid waste "must be processed in a manner which will protect the groundwater," per Section 17-27's findings. Section 17-32 turns that policy into enforceable prohibitions: it is unlawful to dispose of solid waste anywhere other than areas permitted through the department of environmental regulation, unlawful to transport solid waste into the county from outside its jurisdiction, and unlawful for a franchised hauler to bring outside waste into a county landfill. A franchised hauler caught doing the latter loses its franchise on top of any fine.

Every vehicle hauling solid waste through the county must keep its load covered; an uncovered truck is itself a violation, separate from where the waste ends up. 00 depending on size) onto tire disposal at the sanitary landfill, a common companion violation when illegally dumped loads include tires. Fines for violating Section 17-32 are set "in accordance with Florida Statutes" rather than a flat local number, so the exact amount tracks the state penalty schedule the county incorporates by reference. Because the article treats solid waste disposal as a utility rather than a general nuisance ordinance, enforcement runs through the sanitation department's environmental officers and citations rather than through Sheriff patrol alone, though deputies can also act on illegal dumping calls.