Pennsylvania Littering and Illegal Dumping Enforcement Agencies
Although there are many enforcement options, start first at the local level. Your local officials should be familiar with properties and residents in their area, and should be able to respond quickly. The below agencies may be good places to try. You can also help our efforts in documenting dumpsites across the state.
- Local Police
- Municipal Code Enforcement
- County Code Enforcement
- County Solid Waste Authority
- County Health Department
Municipal Contact Resources
- Lists townships only. This can be useful to find a phone number for townships that don’t have a website:
https://www.psats.org/find-my-township/ - To find various municipal contacts for cities, townships or boroughs:
https://munstats.pa.gov/Reports/ReportInformation2.aspx?report=CountyMuniContact - Local government official information:
https://munstats.pa.gov/Reports/ReportInformation2.aspx?report=LocalOfficial_Excel - List of members of the Pennsylvania Municipal League (most include websites):
https://www.pml.org/about/municipal-membership/ - To find if a municipality has a local, other municipal contracted, regional police force, or state police: Note this doesn’t list contact info for the agencies, but can at least point you in the right direction of who to contact next.
https://munstats.pa.gov/Reports/ReportInformation2.aspx?report=MuniPolice_Excel
County Contact Resources
- Useful county contacts, including regional DEP, county recycling coordinator, and conservation district:
https://www.keeppabeautiful.org/programs/waste-reduction-and-recycling/ - Find your county’s website:
https://www.pacounties.org/who-we-are/pa-county-websites
State-wide Agencies
If local agencies do not exist or if their response is unsatisfactory, there are other options. Below is a list of Pennsylvania’s littering and illegal dumping laws and enforcement agencies.
| State Agency | Will Respond If: | Contact |
| PA State Police (PSP)Enforces Pennsylvania’s Crime and Vehicle Codes and educates citizens all across Pennsylvania. | The area is not covered by a local police department; litter and illegal dumping occurs on public land, such as a state road right-of-way; and litter and illegal dumping occurs on private land, and the complainant owns that land which is not covered by a local police department. | Contact closest State Police Station. Department Headquarters: 1800 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-783-5599 PSP Station Directory |
| PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP)(Bureau of Waste Management, Bureau of Water Quality)Enforces and permits the Solid Waste Management Act, Waste Tire Recycling Act, Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, and the Clean Streams Law Act among other regulations and educates citizens. | Generally investigates larger dumpsites but may also work with other local authorities or agencies depending on situation. | Contact appropriate regional office. Rachel Carson State Office Building 400 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17105 717-783-2300 Report a Complaint DEP regional offices |
| PA Fish and Boat Commission (PA F&BC)Enforces fishing and boating regulations, educates citizens, manages fish hatcheries, and enhances and preserves the state’s aquatic environment. | The trash lies in or near surface waters, on commission-owned boat launches, or on commission-owned properties. | Contact appropriate regional office. 1601 Elmerton Avenue P.O. Box 67000 Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000 717-705-7800 F&BC Regional Offices |
| PA Game Commission (PA GC)Enforces hunting, trapping, and wildlife regulations, promotes wildlife, hunter/trapper, and environmental education, manages wildlife, and conducts research. | Litter and illegal dumping occurs on State Game Lands and on private property that is open to hunting and fur taking. | Contact appropriate regional office. 2001 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797 717-787-4250 Regional offices |
| PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)(Bureau of State ParksBureau of Forestry) Maintains Pennsylvania’s State Parks and State Forests, enforces State Parks and State Forests Rules and Regulations, develops community conservation partnerships, provides environmental education and outreach, and provides information on the state’s ecological and natural resources. | Litter and illegal dumping impacts State Parks and State Forests. | Contact appropriate State Park Office or State Forest District Office. Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 8767 400 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767 717-787-2869 DCNR Contacts |
| PA Office of Attorney General (OAG), Environmental Crimes Section investigates and prosecutes violations of state environmental laws governing the processing, transportation, storage, or disposal of municipal, residual and hazardous waste. Often cases begin with violations of the Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Streams Law, Air Pollution Control Act, Radiation Protection Act or Oil & Gas Act | The OAG cannot start investigations but can become involved with criminal referrals from local district attorneys or appropriate state agencies like the PA DEP. | PA Office of Attorney General 16th Floor, Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-3391 Criminal Law Division Overview OAG Regional Offices |