295,000
1999
Durham County requires all residents and businesses to recycle. This includes all households, apartments, businesses and industrial sectors, schools and churches.
Materials that must be recycled include glass jars and bottles, steel and aluminum cans, plastic milk jugs and soda bottles, cardboard, telephone books and newspaper.
Durham, the only incorporated city in the county, also bans these materials from the landfill.
The county provides curbside recycling service to all residents except within the city of Durham, but does not provide trash service. Recycling is picked up every other week.
Residents and businesses are given 15 days to correct any violations of the policy before a fine is issued. Fines start at $100 and reach $300 for the third and subsequent violations. The ordinance is not actively enforced.
The county recycled 22% of its residential waste in 2008.
Recycling Ordinance, Durham County
Durham County Solid Waste Plan
