Starting March 1st, people in Durham will have a little bit of help cleaning up their homes and neighborhoods. Durham's annual Great American Cleanup is an month-long event, which will take place on most Saturdays throughout March.

Residents will be able to swap reusable items, and they can throw away those unwanted items that are taking up space. The swap and ‘throw away' will be at the City's Waste Disposal and Recycling Center. That's located at 2115 E. Club Boulevard.

The event will be held from 8 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon at the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center. It will take place every Saturday, except for March 22, due to the Easter holiday weekend.

Mitch Archer from the Department of Neighborhood Improvement Services says he hopes this event will make disposal convenient and affordable.

"We recognize how inconvenient it can be to get rid of some of those bulky household items that can take up space and become an eyesore," Archer said.

"The Great American Cleanup makes it easier for residents to take responsibility for getting rid of those items while helping to improve their community at the same time."

The following are descriptions (provided by the city) of the services available:

Swap Shop

Residents can also bring items to the event that are still usable or can be repaired, to be swapped or donated to the Swap Shop. The goal of the Swap Shop is to keep as much material out of the landfill as possible, helping the City to meet its overall waste reduction goals by extending the useful life of materials. Eligible items include appliances, tools, toys, house wares and office items.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Center, located at 1900 E. Club Boulevard, will be open during its regular hours to accept residential items only, such as automotive, garden and photographic chemicals, paints, batteries and fluorescent light bulbs. The center's normal operating hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Guidelines

* Participation in Durham's Great American Cleanup is free to city residents who bring acceptable items in cars, pick-up trucks and trailers less than eight feet in length.

* Acceptable items include yard waste, trash, garbage, broken appliances, broken furniture and tires (off rims). Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is only accepted at the HHW Center at 1900 E. Club Boulevard.

* Shingles are not permitted. Tires still on rims are also unacceptable.

* Tipping fees will apply to loads brought in commercial vehicles, cargo trucks, stake-bodied trucks, moving/vans trucks and trailers over eight feet in length ($39.50 per ton for trash, $24 per ton for yard debris).

* All uncovered loads are subject to a fine.

* Residents may not take more than three, large items from the Swap Shop before 1 p.m. during any Saturday of the month-long event.

For more information about Durham's Great American Cleanup, contact Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200.

Related Links

1. http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/