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Durham Solid Waste Guide
The goal of the Durham Public works is to efficiently minimize the amount of trash we sent to landfills. To accomplish this, we need residents to understand how to effectively use our program. This page is a guide of how to use our curbside pickup, recycling program, and transfer station
What is Recyclable?
In order for something to be truely recyclable
Plastics
are 7 different categories of plastics used in consumer goods packaging. If you look at the bottom of the container, you will find the plastic number. 1,2, and sometimes 5 have value and are recycled. Durham Public Works collects them co-mingle with glass and metal every other week
Corrugated Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard usually consists of 3 layers and is easily identified by the corrugated middle layer. Think Amazon boxes and shipping containers. In order to be accepted, it must not be covered with dirt, wax, or food residue.
Cereal boxes, computer papers, and junk mail consist of a single layer and are classified as mixed paper. Its current tipping fee is 135 per ton. DPW currently collects mixed paper and cardboard every other week and uses the cardboard value to help offset the cost of mixed paper.
Aluminum
Many beverages offer a choice between plastic bottles or aluminum cans, and the cans have more value than the bottles. Cans are collected every other week and are co-mingled with glass and plastics.
Since Aluminum is valuable and most plastic and glass are not, Durham gets the most revenue when it is segregated. The transfer station has a separate collection area next to the co-mingle dumpster.
