“It’s Biodegradable.” What the Law Says in Utah About Tossing Fruit from Your Vehicle

If you are driving along with a cup full of the shells of sunflower seeds or you have eaten an apple and now you have the core, it is tempting to roll down the window and give it a fling. It is biodegradable after all. The question is if you can be ticketed for littering? 

Biodegradable Waste Dropped on a Highway is Littering 

Utah law doesn’t specify biodegradable waste by name under the law for littering. It does say that any substance that could create a safety hazard or mar the roadway is subject to a fine. 

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This would include biodegradable waste. A banana peel is not going to enhance the look of a highway. Nor will a cup full of sunflower seeds. Resist the urge to toss any garbage out the window even if it is making the cab of your car smell. 

Food Waste Can Attract Animals into the Road 

You can see that there is more to this than sliming the road with an apple core. Food on or near the road can attract hungry animals. This could create a safety hazard and endanger the animal with vehicles flying by. 

Better to keep a trash bag somewhere in the vehicle where it can be placed and discarded at the next stop. Keep Utah roads clean by avoiding any kind of littering. This includes anything in the cab or unsecured loads in a truck.

Read More: It Is Illegal in Utah to Put Off Burying Your Pet

This will keep our highways looking clean and you can avoid paying a fine.