In response to a recent rise in items being illegally discarded along roadsides and other unauthorized areas throughout unincorporated Dare County, Dare County Public Works is issuing a reminder to residents, visitors and property owners that illegal dumping is a serious offense under North Carolina law. Improper disposal of waste—including household trash, appliances, and abandoned and unlicensed vehicles or vessels—can lead to substantial fines, as well as misdemeanor or even felony charges.

Illegal dumping not only creates unsightly conditions; it also poses risks to public health and safety, threatens local wildlife and harms Dare County’s sensitive natural environment. Dare County Public Works officials emphasize that the proper disposal of unwanted items protects residents and visitors, keeps communities clean, and helps maintain the county’s scenic natural landscape.

Dare County’s Legal Disposal Sites*

Dare County Public Works provides two legal and convenient disposal locations for residents, property owners and commercial businesses to drop off construction and demolition debris as well as unwanted white goods, such as appliances, metals, home furnishings and auto tires. These items may be brought to:

• Manns Harbor Transfer Station/C&D Landfill
  Address: 1603 Cub Road, Manns Harbor, NC 27953
  Hours for Residential & Commercial Haulers: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  Phone: 252-475-2059
  Click here for details regarding temporary Saturday closures at the C&D Landfill side of this facility.

• Buxton Transfer Station
  Address: 47027 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton, NC 27920
  Hours for Residential Haulers: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. | Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  Hours for Commercial Haulers: Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. | Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. | No dumping is permitted for commercial haulers in Buxton after 12 p.m. on Fridays or anytime on Saturdays.
  Phone: 252-475-5883

For a list of accepted and prohibited items, visit DareNC.gov/PublicWorks or click the button below.

*REMINDER: If you are located within one of the incorporated towns within Dare County—Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills (with the exception of Colington), Nags Head or Manteo—please contact your municipality for additional information regarding the disposal dropoff guidelines and procedures for your particular area of residence.

Large Item Pickup

Dare County Public Works also operates an annual large item pickup program—typically held each spring—for the unincorporated areas of Dare County. For more information about the 2026 large item pickup once dates and details become available, visit DareNC.gov/LargeItemPickup.

Report Illegal Dumping

If you witness illegal dumping in progress, do not approach the individual(s) involved. For your safety, call the Dare County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center (Dare Central) non-emergency line at 252-473-3444 to report the crime. If you can do so safely, try to gather identifying details such as license plate numbers or vehicle descriptions to provide to telecommunicators.

To report an existing illegal dump site or provide information about past incidents, contact the Dare County Public Works Department at 252-475-5844.

For more information about illegal dumping, click the button below to visit the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s website.

Stay Connected

To sign up to receive a text and/or email when Dare County Public Works announces their annual large item pickup schedule, along with trash collection schedules due to inclement weather or holiday closures, please visit DareNC.gov/Subscribe. 

To view the Dare County Public Works trash collection schedule, visit DareNC.gov/Trash.