How to dispose of your Christmas tree on the Outer Banks
With the holidays coming to an end, residents are reminded that there are differing policies regarding the disposal of Christmas trees depending on where you live.
And there are multiple ways to recycle your tree in a way that benefits the dunes along the Outer Banks, even if you don’t live close by.
Remember, all ornaments, lights, ribbons, tinsel and other decorations must be removed before the trees are placed on the curbside for pickup, dropped off at the appropriate recycling centers or taken to the beach for dune restoration.
There are are local organizations and businesses, that accept donations of trees for dune restoration. Remember the state has rules for how and where they can be placed.
Unincorporated Dare County, which includes Hatteras Island
The Dare County Public Works Department will not pick up any Christmas trees that are left on the curbside within the unincorporated areas of Dare County.
Christmas trees should be dropped off at the Dare County Public Works Recycling Center located at 1018 Driftwood Drive in Manteo, Dare County’s C&D Landfill located at 1603 Cub Rd. in Manns Harbor or at the Buxton Transfer Station located at 47027 Buxton Back Road in Buxton. Trees that are dropped off at these locations will be recycled into mulch.
Unincorporated Dare County includes Hatteras Island (Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village), the Dare County mainland (East Lake, Manns Harbor, Mashoes and Stumpy Point), unincorporated areas of Roanoke Island including Wanchese, as well as Colington and Martins Point.
For more information about Dare County Public Works, including hours of operation at the recycling centers, click here.
Duck
The Town of Duck will collect undecorated, tinsel-free Christmas trees from the curbside on Monday, January 6, 2025 and Monday, January 13, 2025.
The town asks that trees be placed on the curbside the night before residents’ scheduled collection date. For more information, click here.
Southern Shores
Residents of the Town of Southern Shores may place their undecorated, tinsel-free Christmas trees in limb and branch piles for collection during the regularly scheduled pickup for their sector.
Please note that wreaths are excluded and will not be collected. To determine your sector, or to find more information regarding the town’s collection calendar, rules and regulations, click here.
You can also drop the tree off at the Hillcrest Beach Access through January 11, so they can be used for dune restoration.
Kitty Hawk
The Town of Kitty Hawk requests that residents place their undecorated, tinsel-free Christmas trees along the curbside on normal trash collection days where they will be picked up in a timely manner.
Additionally, you can drop your tree off at the Kitty Hawk Bath House near milepost 4.5.
And Better Beaches OBX is collecting trees at Ocean Boulevard Bistro, located at 4700 N. Virginia Dare Trail in Kitty Hawk, to be used for dune restoration.
For more information, click here.
Kill Devil Hills
The Town of Kill Devil Hills will be collecting natural and undecorated Christmas trees that are placed along the curbside beginning on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Trees must be placed on the curbside right-of-way adjacent to your property no later than Tuesday, January 14, 2025. For more information, click here.
Nags Head
Nags Head residents are asked to place their undecorated, tinsel-free Christmas trees along the side of the road in front of their property, where they will be collected as part of the town’s monthly curbside bulk item/brush collection service.
The town also reminds residents to set their trees in a separate pile from the rest of any bulk items that need to be collected. For more information, contact the Nags Head Public Service Department at 252-441-1122 or click here.
Manteo
The Town of Manteo requests that residents place their undecorated Christmas trees from the curbside during the town’s regular Monday and Thursday sanitation runs so the Public Works Department can remove the trees.
Trees must not contain any ornaments, lights or tinsel in order to be picked up. For more information, click here.
North Carolina Division of Coastal Management Christmas Tree Recycling Guidance
The N.C. Division of Coastal Management has provided guidance for property owners who would like to utilize Christmas trees for use in dune restoration. Natural Christmas trees may be used as a substitute for traditional sand fencing but must be free of decorations and should be placed in a manner that meets the State of North Carolina’s rules for sand fencing.
Learn more about these rules and regulations at the N.C. Environmental Quality website.
