Keep hazardous items out of your trash cart — sanitation truck fires in Dare County
Three sanitation truck fires in one month. Lithium-ion batteries, aerosols, and household chemicals don't belong in regular trash. A county-wide hazardous waste collection runs May 14–16.
Dare County Public Works is sounding the alarm after three sanitation-truck fires in the past month — all caused by hazardous items tossed into regular trash carts.
“Our Sanitation Division has experienced three fires in the back of trash trucks in the past month alone.” — Shanna Fullmer, Director, Dare County Public Works
These “hot loads” put sanitation workers, firefighters, and neighbors at risk. They also contaminate the soil and waterways that make the Outer Banks what it is.
What’s causing the fires
Items that look harmless at home turn dangerous once they’re compacted inside a truck. The most common ignition sources:
- Lithium-ion batteries (phones, laptops, vapes, power tools, e-bikes, scooters) — damaged or punctured cells overheat under pressure and can erupt.
- Aerosol cans — even “empty” cans hold residual propellant that can rupture.
- Household chemicals — bleach, ammonia, pool chemicals, solvents. Mixing in the truck can produce toxic or explosive reactions.
- Hot ashes and charcoal — must cool for several days before disposal.
- Vapes and small electronics, fluorescent bulbs, propane cylinders, gasoline and motor oil.
What to do with these items instead
Never put any of the following in your WCI trash or recycling cart:
- Batteries of any kind (especially lithium-ion)
- Electronics, phones, tablets, vapes
- Aerosol cans
- Paints, solvents, household and pool chemicals
- Propane cylinders, gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze
- Hot ashes or partially-burned charcoal
- Fluorescent bulbs, pesticides, herbicides
- Medications and sharps
Drop-off this week — May 14–16
Dare County Public Works is hosting a free three-day household hazardous waste collection event at three locations. The Manteo session on Saturday is the closest for Roanoak Village residents:
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, May 14 | 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | Kitty Hawk Town Hall · 101 Veterans Memorial Drive |
| Friday, May 15 | 2–4 p.m. | Buxton Transfer Station · 47015 Buxton Back Road |
| Saturday, May 16 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | Dare County Public Works · 1018 Driftwood Drive, Manteo |
The Saturday Manteo session is on our events calendar — save it as a reminder.
Accepted at the event: paints, polishes, varnishes, cleaners, pool chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids and batteries, fuel additives, gasoline, mercury, fluorescent bulbs, aerosol cans, and small batteries.
Year-round options
If you miss this weekend’s window, Dare County’s transfer stations accept many of these items year-round. Pharmacies and most big-box retailers take medications, sharps containers, and rechargeable batteries. Auto parts stores accept used motor oil and car batteries. When in doubt, call Dare County Public Works at (252) 475-5880 before you toss it.
Source
Outer Banks Voice — Hazardous material disposal reminder following recent sanitation truck fires · May 13, 2026