Are You Breaking the Law with Your Garbage in Texas?

Growing up in West Odessa off of Palomino and Moss, there are things you notice but don't register because it is so common. As a kid, I would volunteer with Keep Odessa Beautiful to pick up litter but it still felt like just a part of Odessa. I got older and started traveling further from Texas. This is when I realized Texas has a big litter problem.

Texas has a serious litter issue that costs the state more than $50 million in cleanup. Midland and Odessa are not excluded from this. Working in the oilfield for many years I always saw tires, mattresses, couches and so much more dumped off on county roads around town. Plus let's factor in all the dibree that falls off of all the oilfield traffic out here.

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There are many resources locally to help with unwanted items you can't throw in the trash. Most cities have numbers to call to get bulk items picked up like furniture and appliances. Cities also have hazardous waste management plants as well. Don't forget you can also take your recyclable items to your local recycling centers.

My solution was to throw everything that fits into the dumpster behind my house but this is not the case. In Texas, many items are illegal to throw in the trash. Obviously, hazardous material is not allowed in the trash but some items in this category may surprise you. Here is the list of the most common items you can't throw in the garbage in Texas.