White County, AR Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- White County Code § 360.03
- Adopted by
- Ordinance 1989-008, passed 4-19-89
- First-offense fine
- $100 to $500
- Second-offense fine
- $500 to $1,000
- Cleanup order
- Up to 30 days of litter removal
- Informant reward
- $50 of fine collected
Summary
White County Code § 360.03 makes it unlawful to drop, deposit, or discard litter, including dead animals, junk vehicles, and old tires, on public or private property or into any river, lake, pond, or stream in the county. Violators face escalating court fines and can be ordered to clean up roads and public places.
“Litter” means all waste material which has been discarded, or otherwise disposed of as herein prohibited, and includes, but not limited to, garbage, trash, cans, bottles, paper, ashes, refuse, carcass of any dead animal, fish, or fowl, junk motor vehicles, old tires, inoperative or abandoned appliances, or any waste materials whatsoever commonly discarded by persons. ... It shall be unlawful to drop, deposit, discard, or otherwise dispose of litter upon any public or private property in this County, or upon or into any river, lake, pond, or other stream or body of water within White County, Arkansas, unless: ... The fine for a violation of any provision of this Ordinance shall be a fine of not less than $100.00, nor more than $500.00, first offense; not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for a second offense. ... In addition to the aforementioned penalties, any violator may also be required to remove litter from along the public roads and from public places in White County and at other appropriate places for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days.
Full Breakdown
03, adopted by Ordinance 1989-008, defines litter broadly to include garbage, trash, cans, bottles, paper, ashes, refuse, the carcass of any dead animal, fish, or fowl, junk motor vehicles, old tires, and inoperative or abandoned appliances, and it defines public place to include all public roads and rights-of-way in the county. It is unlawful to drop, deposit, discard, or otherwise dispose of litter on any public or private property in the county, or into any river, lake, pond, or other stream or body of water, unless the property is a county-designated disposal site, the litter goes into a receptacle meant for it and is secured against blowing or washing away, or the person lawfully possesses the property and the dumping creates no public health, safety, or fire hazard.
The ordinance separately bars putting out a dead animal, fish, or fowl for county pickup, though cooked meat that is household garbage may go out sealed in a plastic trash bag. If litter found in violation can be traced to a particular person, that fact is prima facie evidence that the person placed, removed, or authorized the placement of it, easing the county's burden of proof. The Sheriff's Office and Road Department are the practical enforcers of this chapter, since it sits in the Law Enforcement chapter of the county code alongside the county's other public-safety ordinances.
Violations & Fines
A litter conviction is a misdemeanor. First offenses draw a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500; a second offense runs from $500 up to $1,000. Courts may also order the violator to remove litter from public roads and other county places for up to thirty days, and an informant whose tip leads to a conviction can collect a $50 reward from the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as illegal dumping in White County?
Can I leave a dead animal out for the county to pick up?
What is the penalty for a second dumping conviction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in White County
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