Littering and Scattering Rubbish
18 Pa.C.S. 6501 — $50 to $300 and 5 to 30 hours of litter pickup the first time
Scattering rubbish is depositing waste paper, household waste, glass, metal, refuse or anything dangerous on a road, street, highway, alley or railroad right of way, on someone else's land, or in the state's waters. It also covers scattering or disturbing the contents of a trash or garbage receptacle.
Who handles this in Pennsylvania: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Pennsylvania directory.
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| OffenseFirst | PenaltySummary offense: $50 to $300 and 5 to 30 hours of litter pickup within six months, or up to 90 days, or both |
| OffenseSecond or later | PenaltyMisdemeanor of the third degree: $300 to $1,000, and possibly jail or 30 to 100 hours of pickup |
| OffenseA hauler dumping a load, first | PenaltyMisdemeanor of the second degree: $500 to $5,000 |
| OffenseA hauler dumping a load, again | PenaltyMisdemeanor of the first degree: $1,000 to $10,000, and the vehicle can be forfeited |
An officer may arrest a dumping hauler without a warrant on probable cause backed by recent evidence. Whether a particular charge fits is a question for a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- 18 Pa.C.S. 6501 — Scattering rubbish
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.