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New York City Offers Cash Rewards to Report Illegal Dumping From Vehicles

The program pays residents up to half of a collected fine for credible, documented reports of vehicle dumping.

Overview

  • DSNY formally activated two reporting tracks that can earn payouts starting at $2,000: a video or sworn-affidavit submission and a coordinated tip to catch offenders in the act.
  • Reports should include clear license-plate video or a notarized affidavit with the vehicle description, time, location, and material type, submitted to IllegalDumpingTips@dsny.nyc.gov or by mail to DSNY Enforcement in Brooklyn.
  • Penalties described in official materials vary, with a DSNY release citing fines starting at $4,000 and other DSNY guidance and local reports noting maximum fines up to $18,000 and potential vehicle seizure.
  • Payments are issued only after the city collects a fine or default judgment, and affidavit witnesses may need to testify at OATH if a cited party appeals, while coordinated confidential tips avoid mandatory testimony.
  • The rollout follows intensified enforcement that includes more than 300 covert cameras, 417 vehicle seizures in 2025—a 46% rise from 2024—and a 21% annual increase in dumping citations alongside 453 tons of waste removed.