Call 911
Call 911 to report illegal dumping in progress.

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You can report past or chronic illegal dumping of material such as trash bags, construction debris, and appliances from a vehicle onto public or private property.

If you're a property owner or manager, you're responsible for the removal of small amounts of trash from public sidewalks next to your property. You're responsible even if it was dumped and you filed a report. You may get a ticket for trash you should have cleared but didn't.

It's illegal to dump trash or debris of any type from a vehicle onto a street, lot, park, or any other public or private property. Both the vehicle owner and driver are legally responsible for dumping. Fines for the vehicle owner range from $1,500 to $20,000.

You can request the removal of a large amount of trash or bulk items (enough to fill one bathtub) dumped on public property. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will respond within 5 business days.

DSNY may help with the removal of unusually large items dumped in the street or sidewalk, but it doesn't remove items from private property, including community driveways and parking lots.

If you're a property owner or manager, you're responsible for the removal of small amounts of trash from public sidewalks next to your property, even if it was dumped and you filed a report. You may get a ticket for trash you should have cleared but did not.

Call 311 for assistance.

You can report illegal dumping from a vehicle that has happened repeatedly at the same location.

When reporting trash dumped from a vehicle, it is helpful to provide:

  • The vehicle's license plate number 
  • A description of the vehicle 
  • The type and amount of material dumped 
  • The time, date, and location of the dumping

What Happens Next

The Department of Sanitation will monitor the location within 3 to 7 business days and try to catch the person in action but will not remove the trash.

Call 311 for assistance.

You can report electronics that were illegally dumped on a sidewalk.

Call 311 for assistance.

If you are reporting a mattress or box spring that has been illegally dumped on a sidewalk, you do not have to cover it in a sealed plastic bag for collection.

If you provide information about illegal dumping that leads to a fine or civil penalty, you may be eligible to receive up to half of the payment. To earn the reward, you must complete the Illegal Dumping Award Program Affidavit.

You can get more information about the Illegal Dumping Award Program and a tip form or affidavit to report illegal dumping.

Learn more about the Illegal Dumping Award Program and download the tip form or affidavit.

What You Need

Your report must include:

  • The time, date, and location of the incident
  • A description of the vehicle, including license plate number
  • The type and amount of dumped material

Mailing Address

Mail the completed tip form or notarized affidavit to:

Director of Enforcement
NYC Department of Sanitation
1824 Shore Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11214

What Happens Next

After you mail the tip form or affidavit, you will get a status update in the mail after a few weeks of mailing either document.

If the respondent pleads not guilty to the notice of violation, you will be required to testify at the hearing. You can also request a hearing on the affidavit form. If a hearing is necessary, you will receive the date and time of the hearing in the mail.

If you're available by phone and can guarantee your appearance in court within two hours of being called, you can request a telephone standby on the affidavit form. Telephone standbys are only available at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 1 PM.

Illegal dumping cases are heard in the borough where the violation occurs. For locations and hours, visit the City-Issued Violation or Summons page.

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