Curbside Trash and Recycling Pickup Policies

**REMINDER, PER THE SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE, ALL CONTAINERS AND PLASTIC BAGS SHALL NOT BE PLACED OUT SOONER THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE COLLECTION AND NOT LATER THAN 7:00AM ON SCHEDULED COLLECTION DAY. WASTE AND RECYCLING CONTAINERS SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE CURB WITHIN 24 HOURS OF ANY COLLECTION.

Your Trash and Recyclables are collected on the same day each week.  Below you can look up your trash day by road OR call Durham Public Works to confirm which day your road is picked up.  You must separate recyclable material from refuse or regular household trash.

TRASH will be collected weekly, and must be in tied plastic bags or covered garbage cans not to exceed 50 lbs/each unless you purchase a lock on barrel. 

CURBSIDE RECYCLING COLLECTION PICKED UP ON ALTERNATING WEEKS.

Only "Trash" and "Recycling" as defined below is eligible for residential curbside collection.

Trash – The general non-recyclable household solid waste that is generated by a residential dwelling unit or a commercial property, excluding commercial and industrial waste, bulky items, construction and demolition debris, food waste, electronic waste, non-hazardous contaminated soils, asbestos waste, end-of-life motor vehicles, infectious waste, or animal carcasses.

Recyclable Materials – For the purposes of this definition, this is collectively all the materials accepted by the Town for recycling and which will be transported to firms contracted by the Town for recycling purposes. Acceptable items may change due to market and economic conditions as specified by the Director.

For a quick reference to recyclable guidelines, please visit: Home | Recycle Smart (https://recyclesmartma.org/)

Due to a significant change in the global marketing of recyclables, the Integrated Waste Management Committee (IWMAC) and Town Administration have decided to return to a dual recycling collection as we did prior to 2015.  This decision was made with both environmental and fiscal responsibilities in mind.  Recycling used to generate revenues to offset costs of operating, however the current market conditions have not only tonnage costs but escalating ones.  A calendar is included on page 4 of the annual newsletter to follow going forward.

REMINDER: Remember, all recyclables and household refuse should be curbside by 7am on the day of your collection per ordinance!  All recyclables must be put out in a proper recycling container.  Blue, 18-gallon recycling containers may be purchased at Durham Public Works for $10, otherwise alternative containers are acceptable as long they have holes drilled in the bottom and are clearly marked “RECYCLABLES.”  RECYCLABLES PLACED IN PLASTIC BAGS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Items Not Acceptable for Curbside Collection During Weekly Operations Include but are Not Limited to:

• Waste materials not properly segregated for recycling
• Hazardous Waste
• Fireplace ash
• Waste Oil / Oil Filters
• Antifreeze
• Bulky Waste
• Yard Waste
• Rocks, dirt, gravel, asphalt, bricks, concrete, sand and other such solid fill
• Construction and Demolition Debris
• Appliances
• Electronics
• Tires

Materials not covered by curbside collection shall be prepared for collection and shall be disposed of by and at the expense of the owner by causing the same to be delivered to the Transfer Station, or a private alternative, as directed by the Director.

LOCK ON BARRELS: Both the refuse and the recycling truck are capable of picking up lock on barrels.  If you choose to purchase this type of receptacle, the compatible type of can must be no larger than 95 gallons and have the metal or plastic bar type attachment. 

Please See Attachments below for additional information.