From Galveston County:
Lately there has been an increase in the amount of palm fronds being disposed of on the beach, specifically on the dunes. This has been an issue for some time and there was confusion as to whether it was legal or not. Many people have received different answers from different agencies. We have recently reached out to the GLO to get an answer.
According to the Galveston County Dune Protection and Beach Access Plan, disposing of palm fronds on the beach is NOT allowed. “Organic bushy materials such as seaweed and other naturally occurring and biodegradable debris that is left upon the beach” is allowed to rebuild dunes. Palm Fronds do not fit into this definition. It has long been thought that placing these on the beach helps to attract and catch sand, therefore building the dunes, when in fact the fronds smother out the naturally growing vegetation that hold the dune system together, weakening it. On a side note, placing any material on the dune system is NOT allowed without the proper permit for restoration from Galveston County. Placing fronds or other items on the dunes can be considered littering and have up to a $500 fine.
Options for palm frond disposal are:
- Obtain a burning permit from Galveston County and burn you fronds when allowed.
- Peninsula Sanitation will accept palm fronds at their location with a fee per cubic yard.
Please help protect our protection, do not dispose of your debris on our dune system.
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I would like to share this to my business fb page however it isn’t letting me. Do I have permission to copy and paste the article and photos.
Thank You,
Donna Dearing
Palms of Paradise
Winnie, Texas
I would like to share this on my business facebook page. However it isn’t letting me May I copy and paste the article and photos. Thank you
Donna Dearing
Owner of Palms of Paradise
Winnie, Texas.
Needing a number to call to obtain a burning permit. Please. Thank you!
So is it legal to dump trash….?
It seem so me this is a much larger problem than ‘palm fronds’. After any weekend, you can see the remnants of total disregard for the littering. This is a blight on the community that costs the County ‘thousands’ for the clean-up. Not to mention it looks like ‘damn-it’.
Also, I see MANY ‘beach-goers’ abiding from glass bottles. Again, a much bigger problem than ‘palm fronds’.
Trash cans are plentiful and I get that, but too,too often they are full(or overflowing)on the weekends (when they are needed to be emptied the most).
These ‘palm fronds’ (while unsightly, I agree) are NOT the problem.
I believe all littering is being ignored by the authorities. I believe the policy should be “pack it in pack it out” the garbage cans fill up and it gives people an excuse to leave their full garbage bags there in the sand. Big dumpsters should be utilized away from the beach…..Palm Fonds are just a small blip on the litter problem…..
trash bins being full, way too full, is in great fault of residents and home owners who take their residential trash to the beach! I have personally witnessed this from my neighbors who I am guessing don’t feel they are special exception to the sign that reads those beach bins are not for residential trash! Who do I report this to?
If I had to guess, your neighbors do not pay for trash service. Either by oversight or, they are trying to beat the system.
I know several of my neighbors that don’t have trash service, but I am certainly not going to turn them in.
One of my neighbors was placing their trash out by the road on Sunday when they would leave and of course the birds would get in it. I would usually get the few bags and put with mine.
As it turned out, they did not know they didn’t have trash service and now they do.
Report infractions to Gerald Still, trash commissioner. I don’t have his number but he lives in Sandpiper.
Very relieved to have a specific decision, now there should be no question in any ones mind. I have found the snakes have gotten worse since the fronds have collected on the dunes, great hiding place! Thank you for this valuable information. Carlis Danna Cole
Post a phone number of who to call. I see this a lot.
Thanks