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legal or illegal to dump trash in someones public property in California?

i own a laundromat and a big dumpster like 20X5 ft and people have been putting trash in my dumpster and overflowing it overnight

also when they come do laundry they think they can bring whole bunch of trash bags and just throw in there.

if they are doing it illegally and without permission from me or employees can i sue them and file a police report?

is it illegal to dump their trash into mine?

is there a website or a law that states about this problem?

i just really want to get all this trash off property.

thanks

Update:

did that and they broke it

tried signs didnt work

Update 2:

haha yes i did

i caught this person at night during work time and she came back to apologize but i didnt care

also i did do some trash collecting too and and found out that it was one of the employee's husband

11 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Here is a fun idea. Look in a bag of trash that was an illegal dump. Take a look in it, and see who owns it. Take the bag and leave it on the front step. Add a note. "Next time it comes back without a bag." That might work. And it would be fun.

    Source(s): s--attorney 25 years
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It would come under trespassing. About the only way to stop it is to catch the people in the act. Best way is to install a security camera. Many strip malls in my area have security cameras overlooking their loading docks and dumpsters for that very reason.

    You'd be surprised at the many different type of folks who dump trash illegally. I used to work for a residential hotel. We had a surveillance camera. In the past we busted not only private citizens but home remodeling contractors, and retail business owners looking to save money by using other business's trash facilities.

    All you need is to get their license number and report it to your local police department. They'll do the rest, and by the way those fines can get pretty hefty especially for repeat offenders.

    EDIT: By the way ever think of looking through some of the trash left behind? On one occasion this moron dumped several bags of expired food items and candy bars along with some invoices that had their business address and phone number printed on them.

    A little detective work on your part can't hurt either.

  • 1 decade ago

    First try a fake CCTV camera. They make some good fake ones. Some even have a lens and the others ones that are hard to tell if they are real or fake are the black-bubble cameras.

    They are dumping illegally. The signs should be large, and indicate illegal dumping is trespassing and that dumpers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Also indicate CCTV is in use. If it keeps going, get a real CCTV to nail these bastards.

    You don't need a law. You have private property and people are trespassing.

  • 1 decade ago

    It's called Theft of Service and is a criminal offense. As a business, you pay a monthly fee to a contractor for the disposal of your garbage, which fee is based upon the amount of garbage. By another utilizing your service, your amount of garbage has been increased which potentially can increase your fees. Whether or not it has actually done so is immaterial. It's still theft when the service is taken or used without your business' permission.

    Granted, it's only a misdemeanor, and the police will not set out a garbage patrol to sit and watch who is doing it, but you can report it. The police may increase their pass-by patrols and possibly encounter the offender. If you use a camera and discover who it is, you can turn that evidence over to the prosecutor and press charges for the theft.

    As for someone apologizing, big deal. They got caught. Of course, they apologized. Hoping that you'll drop the charges.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    No it is not, this is considered illegal dumping. And should be reported to local law enforcement. You need to meet a great deal of criteria from the government to have a legal dump. Get permits lots of bureaucracy. What they are doing is a public health hazard, not to mention a rat trap. Report them before someone gets sick, or well water gets contaminated.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    If the dumpster is yours (or rented by you) then others using it are committing trespass.

    Your only choices are to lock it or hire a security guard just for a day who stands there and warns them off, that should get the idea over.

    To sue anybody you would need to offer proof (probably CCTV footage of them doing it) and would only result in a small fine, so would not be cost effective.

    Even locking it overnight would help.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Yes, it IS INDEED illegal. Check with your municipality to see what bylaws apply and ask, if necessary, how enforcement operates. In some cases, people in your position use security cameras and/or security guards. In most municipalities, such activity attracts quite a large fine, bringing in much-needed income in these dark post-Ponzi days. It's important to sign your dumpster and the laundry facilities accordingly, then follow correct enforcement procedures. It's that simple (and that difficult).

  • 1 decade ago

    Short answer, no. Long answer, there is no such thing as "someone's public property". It's either public, or private. If you own (or rent), then it's private property. It's unlawful for anyone who is not authorized to use your trash, but that won't stop people. It's difficult to stop them.

    If you see someone doing that, take a picture of them (especially car plates). You can file a report and have them fined. Get a reputation for it, and people will stop.

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    5 years ago

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  • DAR
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Put a sign on it not to use it, but to be honest, a padlock would work better.

    Yes it is illegal, if you let them know not to use it. A lot of places have trashcans for customer use - but rarely the dumpster, for bags full.

    How will you catch them? Enforcement is the typical issue.

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