Solid Waste
Solid Waste
The Solid Waste Division provides residential and commercial solid waste collections for the incorporated portions of the Town. Solid waste is collected and transported to a commercially operated Transfer Station.
This Division also provides a twice-yearly large item collections to aid residents with disposal of furniture, white goods and yard debris. In addition, a Christmas tree collection is provided in January.
They also manage the Town's Dry Trash Drop-Off and Recycle Center.
Reminder: Colington Island is an unincorporated area in Dare County; therefore, refuse collection for all of Colington Island is conducted by Dare County. Questions regarding sanitation collection for unincorporated areas of Dare County should be addressed to the County’s Public Works Department at 252-475-5880
Get the scoop from our Solid Waste Division on trash, recycling, and what it takes to keep our Town clean and green by watching the video below.
2026 Collection Schedule
Check out the 2026 Advanced Solid Waste Collection Schedule. The schedule highlights the entire year including holidays, bulk collections and other special collections.
Residential Trash Collection:
We are currently operating on a once-per-week collection schedule.
Twice-Per Week Collection - March 30, 2026 - October 30, 2026
East Side of Highway 158 - Mondays and Thursdays
West Side of Highway 158 - Tuesdays and Fridays
Once-Per Week Collection - November 2, 2026 – March 26, 2027
East Side of Highway 158 - Mondays
West Side of Highway 158 – Tuesdays
Bulk Item Pick-Up
The Town conducts a bulk trash curbside collection twice a year, in spring and fall.
Spring 2026 Bulk Collection Schedule
The Town of Kill Devil Hills Public Services Department will begin collection of APPROVED bulk trash items from IMPROVED properties within the Town of Kill Devil Hills on Monday, April 20, 2026. APPROVED items for collection may be placed in the street right-of-way not earlier than Sunday, April 5, 2026,, and not later than Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Please place approved bulk trash items in (4) separate bundles as follows:
1st Bundle Branches: No longer than 6 feet
Tree Trunks: No more than 14 inches in length and 12 inches in diameter
(No stumps, lot clearings, or debris from unimproved lots)
2nd Bundle Bagged Yard Waste: Pine needles, pine cones, lawn clippings, leaves, etc.
PLEASE DO NOT use plastic trash bags for yard waste: USE PAPER BIODEGRADABLE YARD DEBRIS BAGS for items such as pine needles, pine cones, lawn clippings, and leaves. Please ask for these biodegradable yard bags at your local hardware or gardening supply center. For use during this collection, residents that live within the Town of Kill Devil Hills corporate limits may obtain a limited supply of these bags, at no charge and while supplies last, from the Town’s Public Services office located at 107 Town Hall Drive. Please call 252-480-4080 for availability and instructions.
3rd Bundle White Goods and Metals: Refrigerators (please remove doors), stoves, washing machines, dryers, hot water heaters, bicycles, metal lawn furniture, air conditioners, metal bed frames, etc.
No items can be longer than 12 feet – pipe, cable, etc.
No vehicles or any major portion of cars, boats, trailers, motorcycles, etc.
No motors or machinery with an oil reservoir or gas tank
No propane tanks or sealed canisters of any type
4th Bundle Large Furniture Items: Sofas, beds, mattresses, chairs, tables, bookshelves, etc.
No construction materials or lumber of any kind - no pallets, cabinets, paneling, doors, carpet, flooring, insulation, drywall, shingles, tubs, toilets, sinks, etc.
No concrete, masonry materials, or asphalt
No glass - no windows, televisions, mirrors, camper shells, etc.
PROHIBITED ITEMS: No tires, cardboard, paper products, recyclables, paint, paint products, hazardous materials, or items produced as a result of a contracted service or business.
Non-Approved Materials, Mixed Piles, And Items That Are Improperly Sorted Will Not Be Collected!
Dry Trash Drop-Off & Recycle Centers
701 Bermuda Bay Boulevard
Hours of operation:
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Dry Trash Drop-Off Center
The Dry Trash Drop-Off Center is provided to owners and residents of improved properties within the corporate limits of the Town. It is only accessible to customers who have obtained a permit.
View Dry Trash Drop-Off Guidelines
Obtaining a Dry Trash Drop-Off Permit
Permits are issued free of charge to owners and residents of improved properties within the corporate limits of the Town.
To obtain a permit, please visit the Public Services Department located at 107 Town Hall Drive, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. When applying for a permit, you will be asked to supply two forms of identification, your name, address, license plate number, and a description of the vehicle to which the decal will be affixed.
Recycle Center
No decal is required for use of the Town’s Recycle Center. We encourage and welcome everyone at this facility. Only properly sorted recyclable materials are accepted.
View Recycle Center Guidelines
Residential Curbside Recycling Program
Town residents can recycle at home for a small monthly fee by subscribing to the Residential Curbside Recycling Service offered by Bay Disposal, 252-491-5105.
Repairs to Residential Refuse Carts
Does your residential refuse container need repairs? Our Solid Waste Division might be able to help!
First, call the Town's Finance Department- 252-449-5338. They will provide you with a form so that our staff can visit the home and inspect your container. An inspection will tell us if your container is still under its 10 year warranty. If under warranty, we will make the warranty claim with the supplier. We generally have a stock of replacement parts and can complete the repair immediately.
If we determine the container is no longer under warranty and the repair is minor, you can purchase the repair parts at costs outlined in the fee schedule of the annual budget. Solid Waste Staff can provide information on availability of repair parts during their inspection based on the manufacturer and age of the cart. When repair parts are purchased a work order is written for Solid Waste Staff to make the necessary repairs. Inspections and repairs are made once-per-week on Wednesdays.
Purchasing a New or Additional Container
Call the Town's Finance Department- 252-449-5338 and they will assist you with your need.
Free Mulch Program
Take advantage of the FREE mulch the town offers. It’s available at our Dry Trash Drop Off and Recycle Center. Please help yourself to what you need.
Why use mulch?
Mulch is a beneficial product to use on your soil and around your plants. In addition to being an attractive addition to a flower bed or garden, mulch can prevent the germination and spread of many weeds. This reduction in weeds, can reduce the need to use herbicides and decrease the frequency of cultivation that may otherwise be required.
The addition of mulch can also help to moderate the soil temperature and aid the soil in retaining moisture during dry weather. This moisture retention can reduce the frequency of watering that is needed to sustain your vegetation. When mulch is applied to a soil surface it helps to protect the soil from the impact of raindrops and thus reduces soil crusting.
Additionally, during rainstorms the mulch will reduce the splash from raindrops. This reduced splash will increase the infiltration of rainfall into the soil and prevent the plant foliage from being covered in soil. Organic mulch improves your existing soil by adding additional organic matter as the mulch decomposes. This additional organic matter can encourage the growth of worms and other soil organisms. These beneficial organisms can improve soil structure and increase the availability of nutrients in the soil.