Durham Reporter

City of Durham issued the following announcement on May 14.

City of Durham Opens Waste Disposal and Recycling Center May 18

As Durham begins to cautiously lift some restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, one City of Durham facility will now reopen on Monday, May 18.

While most City of Durham facilities, including City Hall, police headquarters, all fire stations, and all Durham Parks and Recreation facilities remain closed to the public until further notice, the following Solid Waste Management facility will open on Monday with customer service modifications to improve safety.

The Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, located at 2115 E. Club Blvd., will open at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, May 18. This includes the transfer station, hand-unload area, and the yard waste composting facility. Modified operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. until further notice, with the last customer inside the gate no later than 3:45 p.m. For the safety of the public and City staff, the following changes have been implemented:

• Cash will no longer be accepted. Payment must be made by check, credit or debit card, or through current, verified disposal accounts. Commercial customers may apply for an account to make scale time and payment more efficient.
• Customers and City staff will maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet.
• All customers must wear a face covering while on City of Durham property.
• Customers should bring the help they need for unloading their items as City staff will not be available due to social distancing mandates. Staff will only assist in directing customers to the proper disposal/recycling areas and to control traffic.
• The Swap Shop remains closed until further notice.

Upon reopening, there may be long lines and wait times due to anticipated heavy volume of both materials and traffic. Customers should try to avoid peak times, which are 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day. Customers should also note that there are two new trash compactors, so the traffic flow patterns have changed. Customers are asked to be patient and wait for instructions from City staff upon entering for drop-off services which include bagged and bulky trash; mixed recyclables; cardboard; scrap metal; electronics; appliances; yard waste; tires; textiles; and household hazardous waste.

Curbside bulky item services from the Solid Waste Management Department must now be requested by contacting Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200, through their free smartphone app available in the Apple and Google Play stores, or by submitting an online request. Curbside yard waste collection by the department remains suspended at this time.

The Development Services Center lobby inside City Hall will remain closed to walk-in customers through at least May 30. Customers who need assistance should continue to call (919) 560-4137, visit https://dsc.durhamnc.gov, or email dscticket@dsc.mojohelpdesk.com for assistance from teleworking staff. If a service cannot be provided either by phone or on a digital platform, appointment-only, in-person services will be provided with strict adherence to social distancing standards and the use of face coverings.

Durham One Call, along with many City staff from all departments, will continue teleworking and be available during normal business hours to provide assistance either by phone or by email. The City’s website is also fully operational and allows residents to easily make water bill payments and submit online services requests. Durham One Call continues to be available by phone at (919) 560-1200, through their free smartphone app available in the Apple and Google Play stores, and online.

For future COVID-19 updates as City operations, programs, and services are restored throughout May and June, visit https://durhamnc.gov/COVID19 and follow the City’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

Original source: https://durhamnc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2392