Westland, MI Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 42-42(a)-(b)
- Max fine
- $500 per offense (§ 1-8)
- Max jail
- 90 days
- Applies to
- any occupied private property citywide
Summary
Westland bans dumping litter, refuse or garbage on any private property, occupied or not, and makes unauthorized dumping in a private dumpster a misdemeanor under Section 42-42 of the city code.
(a)No person shall throw or deposit litter on any occupied private property within the city, whether owned by such person or not, except that the owner or person in control of private property may maintain authorized private receptacles for collection in such a manner that litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon any private property. The owner or person in control of dumpsters or garbage receptacles shall keep such dumpsters covered and closed, and shall not allow refuse or garbage to be deposited outside of the dumpster or receptacle, or in such a manner that the lid or door of the dumpster or receptacle is ajar. No person, except persons authorized by the city, shall take or remove any recyclables or materials which are part of a city recycling program or demonstration program.(b)The unauthorized placement of refuse or waste in a private dumpster or private trash receptacle of any kind shall be a misdemeanor. (Code 1981, § 19-12)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66).
Full Breakdown
Westland's litter ordinance (Code of Ordinances § 42-42, codified from 1981 Code § 19-12) bans throwing or depositing litter, refuse or garbage on any occupied private property in the city, whether owned by the dumper or not, unless placed in an authorized private receptacle. Dumpster and garbage-receptacle owners must keep lids closed and covered, and unauthorized removal of recyclables from a city recycling program is barred. Subsection (b) makes unauthorized placement of refuse or waste in a private dumpster or trash receptacle a misdemeanor, punishable under the Code's general penalty (§ 1-8) by a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Dumping litter or refuse on private property, or placing waste in someone else's dumpster without authorization, is a misdemeanor punishable under § 1-8 by up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping trash on someone else's property illegal in Westland?
What's the penalty for illegal dumping in Westland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westland
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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle illegal dumping.