Trash & Recycling in Durham County, NC (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Durham County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Every property in unincorporated Durham County must have its solid waste removed at least once every seven days. Sec. 20-4(b) sets that weekly floor, backed by container standards, roadside timing rules for carts, and a licensing system for the private haulers who actually run the routes.
Durham County Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham County Code Sec. 20-4(b)
The owner, occupant, tenant or lessee of any property shall remove or cause to be removed all solid waste from his property at least once every week (seven-day period).
Bin Placement Rules
Durham residents must set garbage, recycling, and bulky items at the curb by 5 a.m. on collection day, place carts no more than 3 feet from the curb, keep them clear of obstructions, and remove empty carts within 24 hours.
Durham cart set-out and curb placement
Some RestrictionsCity of Durham Solid Waste set-out rules
Residents are to place garbage, recycling, and/or bulky items, at the curb on their collection days no later than 5 a.m. ... Once emptied, carts must be removed from the curb within 24 hours after pickup.
Bulk Item Disposal
Large tree/shrub trimmings and bulky or excessive refuse that routine collection can't handle are picked up as "extra refuse" under the director's regulations, at the owner's request, for a fee covering actual cost. Building and demolition debris is not collected by the City.
Durham bulky item and extra-refuse collection
Some RestrictionsDurham City Code Sec. 58-99
Large tree and shrub trimmings, bulky and excessive amounts of refuse, leaves and yard rakings that cannot be handled by routine collection procedure will be handled under regulations of the director, at the owner's request, for a fee to cover actual cost. This is referred to as "extra refuse".
Recycling Requirements
Durham County requires every residence, business, church, school, and institution to make a good-faith effort to pull recyclables out of the trash stream. Sec. 20-6 lists six required categories, from glass and cans to cardboard and newspaper, and once material is placed for collection it legally becomes county property.
Durham County Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsDurham County Code Sec. 20-6
(a)Each person who owns, leases, or manages a residence, residential unit, or place of business, industry, commerce, or other place providing goods or services, or institution, church, or school shall make a good-faith effort to remove recyclable materials from the solid waste generated as required in subsection (b) and make them available for recycling. Notwithstanding the following, nothing i...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping litter on public or private property you don't own is illegal statewide under NC G.S. 14-399. Small amounts are an infraction with fines and community service; larger amounts (over 15 pounds) are a misdemeanor. Only City crews may take set-out material.
Illegal dumping and littering in Durham
Some RestrictionsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-399(a)
No person, including any firm, organization, private corporation, or governing body, agents or employees of any municipal corporation shall intentionally or recklessly throw, scatter, spill or place ... or otherwise dispose of any litter upon any public property or private property not owned by the person.
Yard Waste Collection
Unincorporated Durham County runs no curbside yard waste collection: Sec. 16-13(f) allows residents to burn leaves, branches and yard trimmings on their own property, but only because no public curbside pickup exists. Residents who would rather not burn can haul yard waste to one of the county's four residential convenience centers instead, under Sec. 20-11(d)(11).
Yard Waste Rules in Durham County
Some RestrictionsDurham County Code Sec. 16-13(f)
Open burning of leaves, tree branches or yard trimmings originating on the premises of private residences may be burned on such premises, pursuant to the regulations in this section, only if no public curbside pickup service is available.
Dumpster Rules
Durham County regulates every solid waste container, dumpster included, under Sec. 20-4(c): garbage containers must be durable, rust-resistant, watertight, and fitted with a tight, fly-proof lid. Dumpsters or rollout carts may substitute for individual cans as long as they hold a full week's trash and stay clean enough to avoid odor or nuisance complaints.
Durham County Dumpster & Receptacle Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham County Code Sec. 20-4(c)
Garbage shall be stored only in a container that is durable, rust resistant, nonabsorbent, watertight, and easily cleaned, with a close-fitting, fly-tight cover in place, with adequate handles or bails to facilitate handling. Solid waste receptacles, such as dumpsters, rollout carts, and other containers in various sizes may also be used for storage provided they meet the requirements of this s...
Trash & Recycling by City in Durham County
1 cities in Durham County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Durham County ordinances
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