The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) southeastern region of the Enforcement Division has written 81 citations during the last fiscal year for littering violations.
LDWF enforcement agents from Region 8, which encompasses St. John, St. Charles, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Plaquemines parishes regularly encounter litter and litter dump sites.
The intentional dumping of household garbage, furniture, and tires not only affects our wildlife and the environment but also affects the way others view Louisiana. One of the priorities of the LDWF Enforcement Division is to address these litter locations and violators.
Agents address the littering problem with thorough investigations. These actions include locating violators, issuing citations, photographing the scene for evidence and authoring investigative reports. During the process, violators are instructed to remove the litter.
Region 8 Enforcement Agents have completed investigations ranging from dumped boats, household trash and clothing, moving boxes and furniture, and tire dumpsites.
During the fiscal period of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, LDWF Region 8 agents issued 75 littering citations and an additional six cases with multiple Department of Environmental Quality charges (Hazardous Material Transport and Hazardous Material Dumping i.e Tires and Waste). Over 35 littering cases were specifically investigated in Orleans Parish alone.
Litter cases are a time and labor intensive investigative process; from the location of litter, investigation, violator location, interview, issuing citations, authoring reports, and follow-up, which takes on average six hours over the course of multiple patrol days. With 81 littering cases in Region 8 in the last fiscal year, this totals over 500 hours of investigative work.
Those convicted of litter violations face fines between $175 and $1,000 and up to eight hours in a litter abatement work program.