Finding Your Durham, North Carolina Trash and Recycling Collection Schedule

Knowing when your trash and recycling will be picked up is key to keeping your neighborhood clean and reducing waste. This article will explain how residents of Durham, NC can find their collection schedule, what services the city provides, holiday schedules, and other key information.

Overview of Durham’s Trash and Recycling Services

The City of Durham provides trash and recycling collection services to residents living within the city limits. Here’s an overview of what’s offered:

• Trash collection – Household trash is collected weekly on designated collection days. Trash must be placed in city-provided rolling carts or in properly tagged personal containers.

• Recycling collection – Recycling is collected weekly on designated collection days. Accepted recyclables include paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and steel cans. Items must be clean and placed loosely in city-provided recycling bins.

• Yard waste collection – Yard waste like leaves, grass clippings, and brush is collected weekly for an additional monthly fee. Materials must be placed in paper yard waste bags or reusable containers marked with a yard waste decal.

• Bulky item collection – Large household items like furniture and appliances can be collected by appointment for an additional fee. TVs and computer equipment are collected separately.

• Exempt service – Some residents who meet eligibility criteria can receive backyard collection of trash, recycling, and yard waste.

Finding Your Personal Collection Schedule

The easiest way to find your personalized collection schedule is to use Durham’s online lookup tool:

Find Your Collection Day

This tool allows you to input your address and view a calendar customized to your collection days and weekly pickup schedule.

You can also download the free Durham Rollout app for iPhone or Android. The app provides collection reminders, notifications, and an easy way to search local waste services.

If you prefer, you can call Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 for assistance finding your collection schedule.

Holiday and Inclement Weather Schedules

Trash and recycling collection follows a regular weekly schedule, but may be delayed due to holidays or inclement weather.

Here are some tips for holidays and winter weather:

• Check the holiday collection schedule provided by the online lookup tool or Durham Rollout app
• No collections are made on major holidays like Christmas, New Years, July 4th, etc.
• During holiday weeks, collection will slide by 1 day after the holiday (ex: Normal Friday pickup moves to Saturday)
• Sign up for the city’s email and text alerts to get notifications about schedule changes
• Inclement weather may cause delays in collection – allow crews extra time to complete routes safely
• If collection is delayed by 1 or more days, leave carts out until they are serviced
• Monitor local news and the city’s social media for updates during winter storms

Setouts and Cart Placement

For your trash, recycling, and yard waste to be collected, proper setout procedures must be followed:

• Have carts curbside by 7 AM on your collection day
• Carts must be within 1 foot of the curb or edge of roadway
• Position carts with the lid opening facing the street
• Do not place carts near trees, poles, fire hydrants, or other obstructions
• Maintain 3 feet of space between each cart
• Remove carts from the curb by the end of collection day

Correct placement of carts allows collection trucks to easily access them. Failure to follow these guidelines could result in missed collections.

Special Program Rules and Details

Some city waste services have additional requirements and policies to be aware of:

• Bulky item pickup must be scheduled in advance by calling 919-560-1200. Fees apply based on number of items.

• Yard waste must be in city yard waste bags or reusable containers marked with a yard waste decal. Loose piles or plastic bags will not be collected.

• Exempt service requires documentation of eligibility such as medical issues that prevent cart mobility. Apply by calling 919-560-1200.

• Electronics like TVs require a separate appointment by calling 919-560-1200. Computer equipment can be dropped off at designated facilities.

Review the city website or contact Durham One Call if you need more specifics on special program rules and limitations.

Missed Collections and Contamination

If your trash, recycling, or yard waste is not collected on your scheduled day, there are a few troubleshooting tips:

• Double check that items were placed curbside properly by 7AM on the right collection day
• If you have an overflow, excess waste may not be collected – try to reduce volume
• Contaminated recycling bins with non-recyclable items will be left behind
• Call Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 to report a missed collection
• If repeatedly missed, you can file a report using the city’s website

Contamination happens when non-recyclable materials are mixed in your recycling bin. Common contaminants are plastic bags, styrofoam, food waste, trash, and yard waste. Contamination causes problems at recycling processing facilities.

Contact Information and Additional Resources

Hopefully this article has provided the essential information needed to manage your Durham waste and recycling!

Some helpful contact info and resources:

Durham One Call: 919-560-1200

City of Durham Solid Waste Management: Website, 919-560-4186

Collection Schedule Lookup: Find Your Collection Day

Download Rollout App: Android, iPhone

Service Alert Notifications: Sign Up

Bulky Item Pickup: Schedule, 919-560-1200

Yard Waste Program: Details

Recycling Guidelines: Recycling Do’s and Don’ts

Following proper collection procedures, using the online tools and apps, and knowing who to contact with questions will ensure your Durham trash and recycling is handled smoothly. Reach out to the city’s Solid Waste Management team if you need any assistance getting set up or managing your collection services.