Litter Control and Prevention

Litter bugs should think twice before tossing food wrappers or beverage containers along roadsides in Loudoun County. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in December 2004 to adopt a comprehensive litter prevention and control ordinance, which went into effect immediately. The law makes littering and litter illegal and imposes fines ranging from $250 to $2,500 for those caught dumping trash on public or private property.

The anti-litter ordinance is designed
to prevent such scenes as this.

The litter control ordinance mandates that all litter be disposed in either private or public receptacles and puts the responsibility on property owners to maintain their premises in a litter-free manner. Under the new law, all construction sites are required to have receptacles for both construction waste and workers' litter.

In addition, anyone transporting trash in the county in an open or uncovered vehicle is now required to cover the vehicle's load with a tarp or other suitable cover.

The law also:

• requires business owners and operators to keep adjacent public areas such as sidewalks and alleys free of litter;

• requires litter receptacles at locations frequented by the public; and

• allows for removal of litter by the county at the owner's expense in instances where the property owner is unwilling or unable to remove accumulations of litter upon notice to do so.

Anti-Litter Ordinance is Online

The ordinance, Chapter 1088: Litter Prevention and Control is available online in the .pdf format. This requires the free Adobe Reader which may be downloaded here.

• Litter Prevention and Control Ordinance

For More Information

For more information about the litter control ordinance, contact the Loudoun County Division of Waste Management at 703-777-0187.