llegal dumping is a public health and safety issue, and we don’t take it lightly. That’s why our state and local departments work together to manage it. So when it comes to reporting illegal dumping, we put together a guide for County residents.
Roads with a number as well as a name aren’t owned and maintained by the County. They are handled by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and issues like illegal dumping should be reported to the State.
If the illegal dumping is along a MDOT SHA roadway, then report it here!
How do I know if it’s a state roadway?
Interstate Routes such as I-95, I-295 or I-495 (Marked with a blue and red Interstate shield-shaped sign)
Maryland Routes include MD 5, MD 197 or MD 210 (Marked with a white Maryland rectangular sign)
United States Routes include US 1, US 50, or US 301 (Marked with a white US shield-shaped sign)
If the dumping site is a vacant lot or home, then the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcment (DPIE) will handle it here!
Patience is key. Cleanup is the responsibility of the property owners. In private lots, DPIE has to follow a series of steps before the County can get involved with cleanup.
If the illegal dumping is located along a roadway in the County’s right-of-way, or near a County maintained bus shelter, the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) will handle it here!
DPW&T maintains County roadways and right-of-ways, including mowing medians and roadsides, clearing brush, storm drain channel and pond mowing, and clearing litter and debris. You can help keep County roadways clean by reporting dumping to DPW&T.
If the illegal dumping is in one of our public parks, contact the Park Police here!
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) takes pride in our 27,000 acres of beautiful parkland. M-NCPPC protects our natural spaces and gives our residents and visitors beautiful places to work, play, and learn. Please report illegal dumping to our Park Police so we can keep our parks clean and safe.
Our County is almost 500 square miles, with 2,000 miles of County-maintained roadways (plus MDOT roadways), and 25,730 acres of parkland, so it takes an interdepartmental effort to keep our County beautiful. Thank you for doing your part by letting us know where we need to focus our clean up efforts.