Junk removal in Durham, NC.

Durham, North Carolina (#71 nationally) is part of the Research Triangle and operates one of the more efficient bulky item programs among comparable cities. One collection per week of up to 3 bulky items is free of charge, scheduled by request via Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200. Items beyond 3 incur charges. Yard waste customers get an additional 2 free bulky brush pickups per year. Yard waste switched to a biweekly Blue Week / Red Week schedule starting August 2025 (collected the same week as your biweekly recycling). Items containing Freon must have a certification tag from a licensed technician. The City operates a Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, Yard Waste Facility, and Household Hazardous Waste Center for residents. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Durham residents.

Free options at a glance

Durham residents have several free disposal pathways. Bulky item pickup handles up to 3 items per request via Durham One Call. Yard waste runs on a biweekly Blue/Red Week schedule for subscribed households. The HHW Center handles paint, batteries, and electronics. The Waste Disposal and Recycling Center handles overflow.

Bulky pickup (3 free per request)

Durham’s bulky item program is by request only — you can’t just put items at the curb and expect them to be collected. Schedule first.

How to schedule:

· Phone: Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200

· Online: Submit a request at durhamnc.gov/855/Bulky-Services

Free vs paid:

· Up to 3 bulky items per request: Free of charge

· 4 or more items: Charges apply. The city will contact you to discuss payment before pickup.

· Yard waste subscribers: Get 2 additional free bulky brush pickups per year as part of subscription.

Frequency: One collection per week. If you have more items than fit in one collection, you can schedule another collection the following week.

Set-out: Items at curbside by 5:00 AM on your scheduled collection day.

Items containing Freon (refrigerators, freezers, A/C units, dehumidifiers): Must have certification tag from a licensed technician confirming the refrigerant has been removed. Without the tag, the unit will not be collected. HVAC contractors handle this; expect $30–$75 for the service.

What works as bulky: Furniture (couches, mattresses, dressers, tables, chairs, bed frames), appliances (washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators with tag), large household items.

What doesn’t go in bulky: Hazardous waste, tires (limited — check with city), construction debris (private hauler), yard waste/branches (separate brush pickup if subscribed).

Yard waste (Blue/Red Week)

Durham’s yard waste collection underwent significant changes starting August 2025: switched from weekly to biweekly, and aligned with biweekly recycling weeks (Blue Week / Red Week). The change helps streamline routes and avoid fee increases.

Schedule mapping:

· If your current yard waste day is Tuesday-Thursday: Pickup day stays the same. Yard waste is collected the day after your biweekly recycling pickup.

· If your current yard waste day is Friday: Pickup day shifted to Monday starting August 2025.

Find your week: Use the Find Collection Day Holiday Schedule lookup at durhamnc.gov/3025 or the Durham Rollout app to confirm whether your address is Blue Week or Red Week.

Subscription: Yard waste service is opt-in. Service auto-renews each fiscal year. Notification of renewal is mailed to subscribers; you don’t need to take action to keep service.

To cancel: Contact Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200 by the cancellation deadline (typically 5 PM on Tuesday, September 2 or similar early-September deadline) to cancel for the remainder of the service year.

To subscribe: Complete the application online (English or Spanish) at durhamnc.gov. If you don’t have City water services and are on a well, download, complete, and submit the application with annual payment by mail or in person to 1833 Camden Avenue. You receive yearly billing statements to renew.

Bonus benefit: Yard waste subscribers get 2 free bulky brush pickups per year, separate from the 3-free bulky item collection.

Trash and recycling

Durham provides weekly trash and biweekly recycling collection. Customer service for all city collection: Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200.

Find your collection day and week: Use the Find Collection Day lookup at durhamnc.gov, the Durham Rollout app (iOS/Android), or call (919) 560-1200.

Set-out: Carts at curb by 5:00 AM on collection day.

Trash collection: Weekly in the green roll cart.

Recycling collection: Biweekly in the blue roll cart, on either a Blue Week or Red Week rotation. Single-stream — all recyclables in the same cart, no sorting.

Recycling rules: Items must be empty, clean, dry. Place loose — no plastic bags. Flatten cardboard. Plate glass, mirrors, windows, and ceramics not accepted.

Holiday schedule: When holidays fall during the week, collection is rescheduled. The city’s Solid Waste Management Department closes on observed holidays. For example, Thanksgiving collections shift later: Thursday garbage, Red Thursday recycling, and Thursday yard waste delayed to Friday; Friday yard waste delayed to Monday. The Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, Yard Waste Facility, and Household Hazardous Waste Center are also closed on observed holidays.

Durham HHW Center

Durham’s dedicated Household Hazardous Waste Center handles items that can’t go in any cart. Free for Durham residents.

What’s accepted:

· Paint (latex and oil-based), paint thinner, solvents

· Automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid)

· Batteries (auto, household, lithium)

· Pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals

· Fluorescent bulbs and CFLs

· Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers)

Find current location and hours: Visit durhamnc.gov or call (919) 560-1200.

Closed: All city holidays. Plan accordingly.

Best Buy: Best Buy stores in the Triangle accept most consumer electronics free at customer service for routine drop-off.

Auto parts stores: AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Advance Auto accept used motor oil and lead-acid batteries free year-round.

Donation pickup, what gets accepted

Donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call the program before scheduling.

Paid options

For more than 3 bulky items at a time, items requiring in-home pickup, or households needing same-week service, paid options are available.

What to do, by item type

Reporting illegal dumping in Durham

Report illegal dumping to Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200 or via the City of Durham website. For active dumping in progress, call Durham Police non-emergency.

For North Carolina state environmental violations, contact the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ).

Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes. See our complete illegal dumping guide for North Carolina state penalty information and reporting best practices.

Common questions