Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Durham
Trash Day
Curbside trash is collected once per week, Monday through Thursday (or Friday depending on route area), assigned by neighborhood address.
Recycling
Recycling is collected bi-weekly (every other week) on your designated weekday.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected every other week on the same schedule as your recycling (optional subscription service).
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day (or after 6:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste services, stormwater fees, and optional yard waste subscriptions are bundled together with water and sewer on your monthly city utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH Bank Draft), Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Eligible low-income residents, seniors (62+), and disabled individuals may qualify for monthly bill credits and payment relief through the City of Durham Water Hardship Assistance Program.
Green Cart Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be tightly bagged before being placed in the green cart. Place at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on collection day or after 6:00 p.m. the night before.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Cold and tightly bagged ashes
- ✓Shredded paper
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loose in the blue cart (or in brown paper bags). Never use plastic garbage bags. Collection occurs bi-weekly.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Clean mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jugs
- ✓Plastic bottles and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Hardback books
- ✕Wax-coated or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Fluorescent bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Requires a paid subscription. Use the city-issued brown cart, brown biodegradable paper bags, or properly bundled branches. Do not put dirt, rocks, or plastic bags in the cart. Maximum weight is 175 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Plant cuttings
- ✓Sticks
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once per week by appointment
Placement
Place items curbside by 5:00 a.m. on the scheduled day. Ensure items are not placed under low-hanging wires, tree limbs, or blocking sidewalks and driveways.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (food removed, doors secured)
- ✓ Lawnmowers (gas and oil removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Car parts
- ✕ Propane tanks
The first 3 items per week are collected for free. Additional items, or bulky brush piles exceeding 4 cubic yards, will incur excess fees which must be approved prior to collection.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a city-observed holiday falls on a regular collection day, service is typically delayed by one business day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is subject to the same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage and recycling routes.
Unexpected weather events can also alter schedules. The city recommends enabling push notifications on the Durham Rollout app to receive real-time service alerts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf season, remember that leaves must be properly contained in your brown subscription cart or in biodegradable brown paper yard bags. Loose piles on the street or leaves in plastic bags will not be collected.
Spring/Summer
March to AugustYard waste subscription customers receive two complimentary bulky brush pickups per year. This is ideal for disposing of large tree limbs from spring pruning or debris following summer thunderstorms. Each pickup covers up to 4 cubic yards.
Holidays
Late November to Early JanuaryMajor holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas typically shift your collection day back by one business day. Always verify your exact post-holiday pickup date using the Durham Rollout app.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Bull City Waste Collection
Living in the Bull City means participating in a structured residential sanitation program operated by the Solid Waste Management Department. Standard household garbage is collected once a week using city-issued green carts. To guarantee your bins are emptied, place them at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. The arrows on the cart lid must point toward the street, and the container should be positioned at least three feet away from mailboxes, fire hydrants, and parked vehicles. Once the collection trucks have passed through your neighborhood, you are expected to return your empty carts to the side or rear of your home by the end of the day.
Single-Stream Blue Cart Guidelines
Durham utilizes a bi-weekly recycling schedule, meaning your blue cart will be serviced every other week alongside your standard trash. The city operates a co-mingled, single-stream system, which allows you to place flattened cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and rigid plastics into the same container without sorting. However, contamination is a major issue at the sorting facility. Do not place items in plastic grocery bags, as film plastics will jam the recycling machinery. Furthermore, styrofoam, clothing, and greasy pizza boxes belong in the green trash bin, never the blue recycling cart.
The Subscription Yard Debris Program
Unlike some neighboring municipalities that offer free municipal leaf pickup year-round, Durham operates an elective, fee-based yard waste program. Residents who wish to have organic materials removed from their curbs must register for an annual subscription and pay the associated fee to receive a dedicated brown cart. This brown bin is serviced weekly and can be filled with grass clippings, weeds, and small brush. Alternatively, residents who do not want to subscribe can drop off their yard waste at the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center on East Club Boulevard, though a per-ton tipping fee applies.
How to Use Your Free Bulky Item Pickups
One of the standout perks for Durham residents is the allowance of three free bulky item collections per calendar year. This service is perfect for disposing of large items that exceed the capacity of your standard green cart, such as old sofas, mattresses, or broken household appliances. To take advantage of this benefit, you must submit an online request or call Durham One Call to reserve a spot on the route. Unscheduled items left on the sidewalk are considered illegal dumping and will not be collected by municipal crews.
Route Adjustments for Weather and Holidays
Severe North Carolina weather and official city holidays occasionally disrupt routine sanitation operations. During recognized holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Solid Waste Management Department generally suspends operations. When this happens, all subsequent collection days for that week are pushed back by one full day. In the event of winter ice storms or hurricanes, the city will post emergency route alterations on its official social media channels and the Durham One Call website to keep neighborhoods informed.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Durham Waste Disposal and Recycling Center
2115 E. Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27704
Materials Accepted
Northern Durham Convenience Site (County Residents)
11894 N. Roxboro Road, Rougemont, NC
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Durham charge a fee for picking up yard waste?
Yes. Curbside yard waste collection in Durham is an optional service that requires an annual subscription fee. Once enrolled, you will receive a brown cart for weekly organic debris pickup.
How many free bulky waste collections do I get in Durham?
Every household paying the solid waste fee is entitled to three free bulky item pickups per calendar year. You must contact Durham One Call to schedule these collections in advance.
Can I bag my recyclables before throwing them in the blue bin?
No. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited in the blue recycling cart because they damage the processing equipment. All approved recyclables must be placed loosely into the container.