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FACT BRIEF

Is the state of Texas responsible for cleaning up trash on highways?

By Haley Samsel
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YES

The Texas Department of Transportation is charged with cleaning up trash along highways. The state regularly hires contractors to pick up litter, paying more than $50 million for cleanup efforts in 2021.

However, it’s not always clear where the state’s responsibilities begin and end. Private toll road operators are responsible for cleanup along their lanes, and city crews are often responsible for trash on roads leading up to major highways.

Littering is against Texas law, with violators facing fines up to $500. Repeat offenders could face up to $2,000 in fines and 180 days in jail.

If you see debris or litter on highways, you can report it to the transportation department online. Drivers can also report litterers to the Don’t Mess with Texas litter campaign, who will mail a reminder to the driver about proper ways to dispose of trash.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Texas Department of Transportation Don't mess with Texas
Texas Department of Transportation Report Something On Road
Texas Highways Report A Litterer
Take Care of Texas Texans Don't Litter. Do They?
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Responsibility for litter cleanup on Texas highways not always clear
NBC DFW Don't Mess With Texas: Litterbugs Now Face Penalties
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Fort Worth Report
The Fort Worth Report is a 501(c)(3) organization that launched April 12, 2021. This new media outlet is built on a foundation of local leadership and local investment. It provides community-sourced journalism that exclusively supports and reports on the Fort Worth community with fact-based, thoughtful and contextual coverage without bias or predetermined agendas. The enterprise is governed by a mission statement, bylaws, and an organizational structure that ensures it remains faithful to these foundational principles.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.