Ector County Texas

1)       A person commits an offense if the person disposes 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 right of way or highway, or on other public or private property, or into waters of the state.

2)       A person commits an offense if the person receives litter or other solid waste for disposal at a place that is not an approved solid waste site, regardless of whether the litter or solid waste is disposed of on land the individual owns.

3)       A person commits an offense if the person transports litter or solid waste to a place that is not an approved solid waste site.

Dumping of any lead acid batteries such as batteries from automobiles, aircraft and power equipment is a criminal offense, punished by up to 1 year in jail and a $4000.00 fine.

Dumping any amount of used motor oil onto the ground is a Felony offense, punishable by up to 2 years in a state jail and/or a $10,000.00 fine. 

Illegal dumping of any waste material in waters of the state, streams, lakes, or ponds is a State Jail Felony, punishable by a $10,000.00 fine and/or up to 2 years in a state jail. 

The unauthorized use of another person’s dumpster, including the unauthorized use of a business dumpster is a crime. You may be punished under the Texas Penal Code for Class B Misdemeanor Theft or for Illegal Dumping. If the dumpster has not been rented by you, or you do not have permission of the owner/lessee, you are committing a crime when you use it. 

A junked vehicle, including a part of a junked vehicle, that is visible at any time of the year from a public place or public right-of-way:

Offense

1)       A person commits an offense if the person maintain a public nuisance as described in 683.072

2)       An offense under this section is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding $200.

3)       The court shall order abatement and removal of the

4)       Nuisance on conviction.

Failure to correct the public nuisance may result in the junked vehicle being removed and disposed of and transferred to a scrap yard or motor vehicle demolisher by the County. 

The burning of tires, PVC/plastics, treated lumber, non-wood construction debris, furniture, carpet, electrical wire, appliances, heavy oils, oil filters, asphalt materials, potentially explosive materials and chemical wastes is strictly prohibitedand is a crime.

The burning of trash, brush, trees, stumps or other waste for commercial gain (Companies hired to remove waste from one site to another for disposal) is also a crime.

Only when collection of domestic waste is not provided or authorized by the local governmental entity, and when the waste is generated only from a property used exclusively as a private residence is burning allowed.

On site private residential burning is approved for only domestic wastes generated only from that property (i.e., kitchen garbage, tree limbs, leaves etc).

Waste not considered domestic waste and cannot be burned includes:

* Tires / Rubber
* Treated Lumber
* Non-Wood Construction Debris
* Furniture
* Carpet
* Electrical Wire
* Appliances
* Metal, Tin or Aluminum
* Oils / Oil Filters / Paint / Chemical

Land clearing operations must be done through Air Curtain Incineration (trench burning) or other alternate methods and must be authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) contact the TCEQ Air Quality Section at: 432-570-1359.