Residential Curbside Services

Ordinance 23-03

At the April 6, 2023 Council Meeting, Ordinance 23-03, an Ordinance Clarifying Standards and Enforcement Provisions for Solid Waste Collection was adopted in a 5-0 vote. As stated, this Ordinance clarifies the existing standards and enforcement provisions as set forth in Chapter 50: Solid Waste.

Click here for a summary of Ordinance 23-03 provisions as well as meeting information in which this topic was discussed among Town Council.

Curbside Solid Waste (Trash)

May 1 through September 30:
Trash twice per week, Mondays & Fridays

October 1 through April 30:
Trash once per week, Mondays

Curbside Recycling

May 1 through October 31:
Recycling every Monday

November 1 through April 30:
Recycling FIRST and THIRD Monday of the month


Residential Solid Waste Collection

SOLID WASTE (TRASH) COLLECTION for the Town of Duck is provided by Waste Management, Inc. Place trash in existing BLACK, BROWN, or GREEN waste containers.

The Town-wide residential collection schedule:
  • May 1 through September 30: Trash twice per week, Mondays & Fridays
  • October 1 through April 30: Trash once per week, Mondays

Items To Remember

  • Place the solid waste container at the curbside no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the night prior or later than 5:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
  • Position the waste container with the opening towards the street, within three (3) feet of the road.
  • A two (2) foot clearance should be maintained between waste containers to ensure that collection equipment has access to the container(s).
  • Do not leave any trash outside of the waste container or it will not be collected.
  • Trash collection service will not be provided when access to containers is obstructed.
  • Once trash has been collected, the waste container must be relocated from the street to under or alongside the house no later than 10:00 pm on the day of collection.
  • Waste containers must be stored at least 25 feet off of the improved street.
  • Do not place construction debris, rocks, dirt, shingles, or concrete in your waste container, as these materials are too heavy to be lifted by the collection equipment.
  • Health and safety hazards may occur if containers are overflowing and rubbish exceeds the container capacity. Please do not overload.
  • Rental properties are required to have a minimum of two (2) approved solid waste containers. However, please note the following requirements for waste containers based on permitted occupancy:
    • Thirteen to eighteen occupants require a minimum of three waste containers
    • More than eighteen occupants requires a minimum of four waste containers
      • The property owner is responsible for obtaining additional waste containers to comply with the Ordinance

Missed Collection

Call the Town Office immediately at 252-255-1234 with your property address, name, and phone number.

In the summer season, reports must be received by 12:00 p.m. on the service day for same day collection.

In the off-season, reports must be received by 10:00 a.m. on the service day for same day collection.

Properties that report missed collection later than these times will be informed of the next scheduled collection date.

Replacement Container

Send a photo of the damaged can to info@townofduck.com with the address, a description of the damage, and your name and phone number.

Cans may be eligible for replacement only for functional damage (broken wheel, broken lid, etc.) and not for odors or age.

Staff will advise if your can is eligible for a free replacement or if a new can must be purchased. No-cost replacements are limited to one per year per property.

  • Newly completed homes will be eligible for one free can. This does not include redeveloped properties. 
  • Rental properties are required to have a minimum of two solid waste cans. Additional cans must be purchased from Waste Management prior to your final inspection.
  • To purchase additional cans from Waste Management, please follow these steps:
    – call 855-964-2845
    – Option #4
    – Option #3
    – Provide Town wide account number 00009-63942-320049
    – Provide address- 1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC
    – Commercial or Residential? Residential
  • You will then be directed to a live agent who will complete the transaction.
  • If you have any difficulties ordering extra cans, please contact the Town Office at 252-255-1234 and we will be glad to assist you.

Residential Curbside Recycling

RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING for the Town of Duck is provided by Tidewater Fibre Corporation utilizing leased BLUE containers.

An additional residential recycling collection has been scheduled for Monday, April 29. Regular in-season schedule (every Monday) will begin on May 6.

Collection days are as follows:

  • May 1 through October 31: every Monday
  • November 1 through April 30: FIRST and THIRD Monday of the month

NOTE: The schedule does NOT change when scheduled collections occur on public holidays. The collection schedule is maintained 365 days per year, except for December 25th, and/or unless the Town is informed otherwise.

Items to Remember

  • Place the solid waste container at the curbside no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the night prior or later than 5:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
  • Position your recycling container with the opening towards the street, within three (3) feet of the road.
  • A two (2) foot clearance should be maintained between containers.
  • Do not leave recyclable materials outside of the recycling container, or they will not be collected.
  • Once recycling has been collected, the recycling container must be relocated from the street to under or alongside the house no later than 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
  • Recycling containers must be stored at least 25 feet off of the improved street.
  • Please pour or wipe out contents of cans and bottles before recycling.
  • Please break down cardboard.
  • Place recyclable materials loosely in your recycling container.
  • Do not place trash in your recycling container.

Missed Collection

Call the Town Office immediately at 252-255-1234 with your property address, name, and phone number.

Reports must be received by 10:00 a.m. on the service day for same day collection.

Properties that report missed collection later than these times will be informed of the next scheduled collection date.

Replacement Container

If your can is damaged, contact info@townofduck.com with the address, a description of the damage, and your name and phone number.

Missing cans may also be reported at info@townofduck.com or 252-255-1234.

Replacement cans are typically delivered on the same Monday schedule as recycling collection.

Recyclable Items

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Recyclable Items

  • Plastic bottles and jugs, screw tops can stay on
    • (plastic tubs are not accepted; yogurt containers, salad containers)
  • All metal cans
  • Glass bottles and jars, remove lids
  • Paper, cartons, and cardboard: flatten all cardboard boxes

Know Your No’s

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Do Not Recycle in Your Curbside Can

  • Plastic bags or film (grocery stores may accept)
  • Paper smaller than a business card
  • Receipts
  • Greasy paper/cardboard items
  • Beach items (toys, umbrellas, chairs)
  • Batteries (hardware stores may accept)

For more information, check out the following FAQ from TFC: