News Flash

Biweekly Collections Set for Fridays Beginning in June

Existing yard waste customers will soon see curbside collections resume beginning next week, but with a modified collection schedule.

The City of Durham Solid Waste Management Department temporarily suspended weekly curbside yard waste collections on March 25 due to COVID-19, but two special collections have occurred since then in April and May.

The department is now resuming curbside yard waste collections for existing customers, but on a modified ‘every other week’ schedule and only on Fridays until further notice. For existing customers who had a regular yard waste collection day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it will now be every other Friday beginning June 5, 2020. For existing customers who had a regular yard waste collection day on Thursdays and Fridays, it will now be every other Friday beginning June 12, 2020.

Customers are reminded to have their carts at their curb no later than 6 a.m. on their collection day. In addition to setting out brown yard waste carts, customers may also resume setting out yard waste in acceptable brown, biodegradable paper bags, and up to five bags will be collected with each service.

The above modified schedule will allow the department to adhere to the social distancing standard of not allowing more than two people in the cab of a vehicle, and allow curbside garbage and recycling collections to still operate on normal schedules.

When service was suspended in March, customers were not charged their monthly fee for this service. The $7.50 monthly charges will resume on July 1, 2020. Customers who wish to cancel their service should do so before June 22, 2020 to avoid charges.

Residents who are not existing customers, but wish to sign up for the service, will also now be able to do so beginning June 15, 2020 with their service beginning in July.

This modified biweekly collection schedule is in effect until further notice. The department’s online calendar, and the department’s Durham Rollout app, have both been updated through August 2020 to reflect the modified schedule for customers. Future service updates will be made as conditions are reassessed over the summer.

Bulky brush service continues to be available by request to Durham One Call, and yard waste customers continue to receive two free collections per year as part of their service. However, wait times for this curbside service are extended, so customers may expect to wait for a week or more after making a request before collection takes place.

To receive reminders the day before scheduled collections, download the free Durham Rollout app by visiting the Apple and Google Play stores. Customers may also print a calendar specific to their address using the department’s online calendar by putting their address under the ‘My Schedule’ tool near the bottom of the page.