Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Durham
North Carolina residential routes run Monday through Friday. Please refer to your city or county zoning map for your specific curbside collection day.
State Mandate
NC DEQ strictly bans aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and electronics from landfill disposal.
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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Shredded Paper Out of the Blue Cart
Although regular paper is recyclable, shredded paper cannot be processed by Durham's curbside single-stream system. You must place all shredded paper into your green garbage cart.
Pizza Boxes Belong in the Trash
Cardboard boxes with wax coatings, heavy grease, or leftover food residue cannot be recycled. Always discard your dirty pizza boxes in the green garbage cart to prevent contaminating clean paper bales.
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery or garbage bags. If you prefer to bag your recyclables before taking them to the cart, use only brown paper bags, or simply empty them loosely into the blue cart.
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.
About Durham Waste Management
Streamlined Scheduling with the Durham Rollout App
The City of Durham highly encourages residents to download the free Durham Rollout app for Android or iOS. This mobile tool provides instant access to your exact collection calendar, sends real-time notifications about weather or holiday delays, and includes a comprehensive Waste Wizard database to help you determine exactly which bin an item belongs in.
Durham's Subscription-Based Yard Waste Program
Unlike garbage and recycling, yard waste collection in Durham is an optional, fee-based service. Residents who opt in pay a $7.50 monthly fee, conveniently added to their municipal water bill. Subscribers receive a brown rollout cart for organic yard debris, which is serviced bi-weekly on the same day as your recycling.
Generous Weekly Bulky Item Allowances
Durham offers one of the most resident-friendly bulky waste programs in the region, allowing households to schedule up to three bulky items per week completely free of charge. Pickups must be scheduled in advance through Durham One Call or the online portal, and specialized boom trucks are used to mechanically hoist heavy items from the curb.
Strict Cart Placement and Ordinance Enforcement
The city utilizes fully automated collection trucks that require clearance to operate the mechanical arms. Carts must be placed at least three feet away from other objects, including parked cars, mailboxes, and utility poles. Furthermore, local ordinances require residents to remove their empty carts from the curb within 24 hours of pickup to avoid receiving a citation.
The Recycle Right Durham Campaign
Spearheaded by the city's mascot, 'Super Can,' the Recycle Right Durham campaign focuses on reducing severe contamination in the single-stream recycling system. A major point of emphasis is ensuring that residents never place their recyclables in plastic bags, as these films severely jam the gears at the sorting facility.
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
Is yard waste collection free in Durham?
No. The City of Durham operates an optional, fee-based yard waste program. Participating households pay a $7.50 monthly fee, which is automatically added to their water bill. You must use the designated brown cart or brown paper yard bags.
How do I report a missed trash pickup?
If your cart was at the curb by 5:00 a.m., properly spaced, and not tagged with a violation, you can report a missed collection by calling Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 or by logging into the Durham Rollout app.
Can I put a television out for bulky waste pickup?
Yes, but electronics like TVs and computers are collected separately from standard bulky waste to ensure they are properly recycled. You must still schedule the pickup through Durham One Call.
What happens if I leave my garbage cart at the curb all week?
City of Durham ordinances require all rollout carts to be removed from the curb within 24 hours after your scheduled pickup. Leaving carts out continuously blocks the right-of-way and can result in a municipal citation.