Littering
24 V.S.A. § 2201 — a civil penalty of up to $800 and up to 80 hours picking up roadside trash
Everyone is responsible for disposing of their own solid waste. No one may throw, dump or leave solid waste, refuse or anything noxious on the state's lands or waters outside a certified solid waste facility, or burn solid waste in the open without every required permit.
Who handles this in Vermont: Vermont Bar Association, Find a Lawyer; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Vermont directory.
| What happened | Penalty |
|---|---|
| What happenedLittering or dumping | PenaltyA civil violation, up to $800, and up to 80 hours collecting roadside trash |
| What happenedHousehold, farm or business trash left in a picnic area, rest area or roadside turnout barrel | PenaltyUp to $200, or up to 40 hours collecting trash |
| What happenedNot paying the littering penalty | PenaltyA one year loss of the right to hold a hunting, fishing or trapping license |
The trash can point back to its owner. A person who can be identified from the dumped waste is presumed to be the one who dumped it, and litter from a snowmobile, boat or car is presumed to be the operator's.
The environmental agency can also bring its own enforcement. Whether a particular complaint fits is a question for a licensed Vermont attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- 24 V.S.A. § 2201 — Throwing, depositing, burning, and dumping refuse; penalty; summons and complaint
- 24 V.S.A. § 2201a — Depositing household and commercial trash in roadside and park litter barrels
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Vermont attorney.