After years of trash being left on ice over the ice fishing season, MN is finally taking action this 2023-24 ice fishing season with the introduction of a new state law that will aim to help keep trash off the ice of Minnesota lakes.

As spring begins and the ice fishing season ends, it is not uncommon for large sums of trash and litter to be left on the ice. Lakefront homeowners often report trash that has been washed up onto their shoreline after it was left out on the lake. The new litter law aims to cut down on the amount of waste left out on the ice over winter time.

The new law which took effect on July 1 will now require all trash to be placed in a container that’s secured to an ice house or vehicle. 

When trash is left directly on the ice instead of in a secured container, it is easy for it to blow away. Fisherman are also more likely to forget their trash if it is left lying on the ice; whereas, if it is securely contained to their vehicle or ice house, it is ensured they will have to properly dispose of their waste. 

Trash being left on lakes has been an issue for a long time. In 2012 a Keep It Clean initiative was started on a few large lakes in northern Minnesota to help keep their lake clean. Over time this initiative proved not to be enough. The Keep It Clean initiative started pushing legislation to implement a new state law that would aim to keep trash off lakes.

Until this winter, it has not been a violation to leave trash out until you leave the site which would give the DNR and game wardens a very small window to catch people who are littering on the ice. Now while the DNR or game wardens are performing checks on ice fishermen if they do not have all their trash in a secured container, it will be a 100-dollar fine. Those responsible for enforcing this new law will be conservation officers. game wardens, and the DNR. The money paid by civilians who break this new law will go to the state’s general funds.