Common Violations
Some examples of how people violate Georgia's Litter and Waste Control Laws are:
- Throwing litter out of a car or boat
- Abandoning old cars or used tires on public property
- Hauling trash for profit and dumping it somewhere other than a designated disposal facility
- Pouring used motor oil, antifreeze, or other pollutants into storm drains or manholes
Penalties
Anyone caught littering in Georgia can be charged with a misdemeanor and, if found guilty, can be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000. The law also allows the court to direct the violator to clean up the littered area and to publish the violator's name in the newspaper.
Anyone caught illegally dumping less than 500 pounds of waste can be charged with a misdemeanor and can be fined accordingly. Each day a continuing violation occurs is considered a separate violation. Dumping more than 500 pounds is considered a misdemeanor on the first offense. A second conviction is a felony. The penalty for a second conviction is a fine of up to $25,000 or a prison sentence of up to two years (or both).
Anyone caught illegally dumping biomedical or hazardous waste or dumping for commercial purposes, can be found guilty of a felony. If convicted, the violator can be fined up to $25,000 and sentenced to two years in prison.