Killeen, TX Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Basic rule
- Dumping anywhere but an approved site is a crime
- Dumpster misuse
- Using another's dumpster is a separate offense
- Small dump
- Under 5 lbs: Class C misdemeanor
- Mid-range dump
- 5 to 500 lbs: Class B misdemeanor
- Repeat offense
- Bumps to the next penalty class
- Reporting incentive
- $50 reward possible for a tip
Summary
Texas law makes it a crime to put out garbage or other solid waste anywhere except an approved disposal site, and Killeen residents who dump loose trash instead of using their curbside account face the same state charge as illegal dumping anywhere else. Penalties scale with the weight or volume of the waste, from a citation up to a state jail felony.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person disposes or allows or permits the disposal of litter or other solid waste at a place that is not an approved solid waste site, including a place on or within 300 feet of a public highway, on a right-of-way, on other public or private property, or into inland or coastal water of the state. ... (j) The offenses prescribed by this section include the unauthorized disposal of litter or other solid waste in a dumpster or similar receptacle. (d) An offense under Subsection (a), (b), or (c) is a Class C misdemeanor if the litter or other solid waste to which the offense applies weighs five pounds or less or has a volume of five gallons or less. (e) An offense under Subsection (a), (b), or (c) is a Class B misdemeanor if the litter or other solid waste to which the offense applies weighs more than five pounds but less than 500 pounds or has a volume of more than five gallons but less than 100 cubic feet.
Full Breakdown
012(a) makes it an offense to dispose of litter or solid waste anywhere that isn't an approved solid waste site, including within 300 feet of a public highway, on any right-of-way, or on public or private property that isn't the site holder's own. Subsection (j) specifically extends that offense to dumping in someone else's dumpster or receptacle, the scenario Killeen code enforcement cites most often against residents who skip their own curbside pickup fee by using a neighbor's roll-out container or a business's commercial dumpster without permission.
Because Killeen requires every residential water customer to carry a solid waste account under Sec. 24-46, bypassing that paid pickup by dumping trash loose at a curb, in an alley, or in another customer's container triggers this state offense rather than a simple municipal fine. The penalty tier depends on weight or volume: Subsection (d) makes a dump of five pounds or less a Class C misdemeanor, while Subsection (e) raises anything from five pounds up to 500 pounds, or five to 100 cubic feet, to a Class B misdemeanor.
A prior conviction bumps the next offense up one category under Subsection (h). 012 charge, since it is a state penal offense rather than a municipal code violation.
Violations & Fines
A first violation involving five pounds or less of dumped waste is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine only. Once the weight or volume passes five pounds or five gallons, up to 500 pounds or 100 cubic feet, the charge becomes a Class B misdemeanor. A second conviction under the statute automatically moves the offense to the next-higher penalty class under Subsection (h), and a municipality or county may offer a $50 reward for a tip that leads to a successful prosecution under Subsection (m).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to put my trash in a neighbor's Killeen trash container?
What is the penalty for dumping trash on the side of the road in Killeen?
Who enforces illegal dumping laws in Killeen?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Killeen
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Killeen to another location·View the Texas trash & recycling overview
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