Tippecanoe County, IN Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 50.03
- 1st offense fine
- $250
- 2nd offense fine
- $1,000
- 3rd offense fine
- up to $2,500
- Fines fund
- Waste Management Support Fund
Summary
At Tippecanoe County's public recycling drop-off sites, only material the receptacle's signage says is acceptable can go inside, and dumping items outside the bin is banned; fines rise from $250 to $2,500 for repeat violations under Code § 50.03.
A person may not place recyclable or other material in a recycling receptacle unless the owner or operator of the receptacle has indicated, through signage or other means, that the material is acceptable for placement in the receptacle. ... The first violation of this section within a one year period shall be subject to a fine in the amount of $250, the second violation of this section within a one year period shall be subject to a fine of $1,000, and the third violation of this section within a one year period shall be subject to a fine of up to $2,500.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-17: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2025-25-CM, passed 8-1-25; and State legislation current through 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
03 governs any location where Tippecanoe County or the Tippecanoe County Solid Waste Management District has placed public recycling receptacles, covering material such as paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum meant to be diverted from the solid waste stream. 03(C), a person cannot place recyclable or other material into a receptacle unless the owner or operator has indicated through signage or other means that the material is accepted there. 03(D) separately bars dumping recyclable or other material outside the receptacle unless signage or other notice from the receptacle's owner, operator, or the property owner says such dumping is permitted.
03(G) for the County's or bin owner's reasonable costs and expenses, including handling the dumped material, attorney's fees, and any property damage or injury the dumped material causes. 03(H) to stop an ongoing violation. 03(I).
Violations & Fines
Fines escalate with repeat offenses within a one-year period: $250 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and up to $2,500 for a third, per § 50.03(E). A citation may issue under I.C. 34-28-5-1(e) and I.C. 9-30-3-6, with a copy going to the Clerk and the County Attorney; fines of $250 or less may be paid directly through the Tippecanoe County Clerk under I.C. 33-36-3-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put anything I want in a Tippecanoe County recycling bin?
What is the fine for dumping trash at a recycling site in Tippecanoe County?
Who enforces recycling receptacle rules in Tippecanoe County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tippecanoe County
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