winter holidays
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City of Durham And Durham County Announces Winter Holidays, New Year’s Schedules

@SpectacularMag

DURHAM, NC – The City of Durham and Durham County Government will observe the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Free Christmas tree drop-off options begin January 3. 

The City of Durham will observe the upcoming winter holidays on Friday, December 24; Monday, December 27; and Friday, December 31. Most City offices, including City Hall and all non-emergency City operations, will be closed to the public on these three dates.

Durham County Government will close most offices in observance of the winter holidays on Thursday, December 23, Friday, December 24, and Monday, December 27, 2021. All offices will reopen with their normal hours of operation on Tuesday, December 28. Most offices will close again on Friday, December 31, 2021, in recognition of the New Year’s Day holiday. All offices will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022.

Scroll down for more information on Durham County Government closings and reschedules.

City of Durham Winter Holidays and New Year’s Schedules 

The Solid Waste Management Department will be closed on Friday, December 24, and Friday, December 31. Curbside collections for Friday yard waste customers will be delayed until Monday, December 27, and Monday, January 3. The Waste Disposal & Recycling Center, Yard Waste Facility, and the Household Hazardous Waste Center will close early at noon on Friday, December 24, and reopen on Monday, December 27 at 7:30 a.m. It will also close early at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 31, and reopen on Monday, January 3 at 7:30 a.m.

Residents are reminded to place their carts at the curb by 6 a.m. the day of their scheduled collections and to recycle as much as possible during the holiday season. Paper holiday waste, including wrapping paper (non-metallic only), cardboard boxes, and greeting cards should be placed in blue curbside recycling carts. For more information about items accepted for curbside collections as well as how to sign up for collection day alerts and reminders for holiday service changes, visit the department’s webpage or download their free Durham Rollout smartphone app available in the Apple and Google Play stores. 

There will also be a number of ways residents may dispose of their live Christmas trees at no charge beginning in early January as follows.

Free Live Tree Drop-Off Locations

winter holidaysLive trees will be accepted for free disposal at the City’s Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, located at 2115 E. Club Blvd., beginning Monday, January 3 until Saturday, February 5. The hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Live trees may also be dropped off at no charge at the following six park locations on Saturday, January 8; Saturday, January 15; Saturday, January 22; Saturday, January 29; and Saturday, February 5 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Solid Waste Management crews will be on-site each of these Saturdays to assist.

  • C.M. Herndon Park, 511 Scott King Rd.
  • Valley Springs Park, 3805 Valley Springs Rd.
  • Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Dr.
  • Twin Lakes Park, 435 Chandler Rd.
  • Southern Boundaries Park, 3400 Third Fork Rd.
  • Bethesda Park, 1814 Stage Rd.
Free Curbside Collections for Yard Waste and Exempt Service Customers Only

Free curbside collections for live trees are only available to current yard waste customers and current exempt service customers. Curbside live tree collections will take place from January 3 through February 4, and current customers should place their tree at the curb on their normal collection day. A tree collection will not count toward a free brush collection for yard waste customers.

Live Tree Disposal Instructions

All live trees left at any of the seven free drop-off locations as well as curbside must adhere to the following disposal instructions:

  • Trees must be cut in half if taller than six feet.
  • Trees must have all decorations and hardware removed including tinsel, lights, garland, ornaments, nails, and stands.
  • Trees should not be inside bags.

Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) Administrative Office and all facilities will be closed beginning on Friday, December 24 through Monday, December 27, and will reopen on Tuesday, December 28. The Administrative Office and all facilities will also be closed on Friday, December 31 through Sunday, January 2, and will reopen on Monday, January 3. For information about DPR programs, activities, and events call (919) 560-4355 during office hours or visit the department’s webpage. 

The Park Durham Customer Service Center will be closed on Friday, December 24; Monday, December 27; and Friday, December 31. On City-designated holidays, downtown parking is free in on-street parking spaces, City-owned parking garages, and City-owned surface parking lots.

Durham One Call will also be closed on Friday, December 24; Monday, December 27; and Friday, December 31. Residents may submit a service request using the free Durham One Call smartphone app available in the Apple and Google Play stores, complete and submit an online service request, or leave a message at (919) 560-1200. Durham One Call will forward all requests for City services to the appropriate department on the next business day.

Water main break and sewer overflow calls for service placed after-hours, weekends, or on City-recognized holidays should be directed to the department’s after-hours emergency phone number at (919) 560-4344, which will dispatch on-call crews.

 

Durham County Winter Holidays and New Year’s Schedules 

Durham County Tax Administration

The Durham County Tax Administration will follow the Durham County Government Winter and New Year’s Holiday schedule. Taxpayers looking to make payments before the end of the year should do so by Thursday, December 30, 2021. The Tax Administration Office will be closed on Friday, December 31. Real and personal property taxes are not past due until after Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Find your bill here. To find out more information, visit the Tax Administration’s website at dconc.gov/tax, call 919-560-0300 or use the online live tax chat option at https://bit.ly/dcotaxchat.

Durham County General Services
Convenience Sites

For the winter holidays, the Durham County General Services Department will close the Solid Waste and Recycling Convenience sites in Bahama, Redwood, and Rougemont on December 23-26 and reopen on Monday, December 27. The Parkwood Convenience Site will be closed December 23-27 and will reopen on Tuesday, December 28.

The Bahama, Redwood, and Rougemont Convenience Sites will be open on Friday, December 31, and will close for the New Year’s Day holiday on Saturday, January 1, 2022. They will reopen Monday, January 3. The Parkwood Convenience Site will be closed on Friday, December 31, and reopen on Monday, January 3.

winter holidaysA reminder that Durham County residents are required to display a current 2021-22 solid waste decal for disposal of garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulky items at the County’s Convenience Sites. To obtain a decal, contact the Durham County Tax Administration at 919-560-0300.

Roadside Recycling

The Durham County roadside recycling schedule for all customers will not be affected by the holidays. All residents are reminded to set out their recycling bins before 6 a.m. on the day of pickup, to avoid a missed collection. Residents who want to keep track of their recycling collection schedule should download the new “Durham County Recycles” mobile application. Residents can download the mobile app for free on Apple devices in the App Store or Android devices in the Google Play Store. To learn more about Durham County’s Solid Waste Division, call (919) 560-0433 or log on to the Durham County Solid Waste website.

Durham County Sheriff

Durham County Sheriff’s Office patrol division, as always, is available 24/7. The Sheriff’s Administration and Records Division will be closed for the winter holidays on Thursday, December; Friday, December 24; and Monday, December 27; and will reopen on Tuesday, December 28. It will also be closed on Friday, December 31, and reopen on Monday, January 3. More information about the Durham County Sheriff’s Office is available here.

Durham County Library

All Durham County Library locations will be closed from December 23-27 for the winter holidays. They will reopen on Tuesday, December 28. All locations will once again be closed on Friday, December 31, and Saturday, January 1. They will reopen on Monday, January 3. A reminder to all library cardholders – digital resources are available every day, even when the library is closed. To view information about Durham County Library’s calendar, programs (both live and virtual), and locations, visit www.durhamcountylibrary.org.

Durham County Public Health

The Durham County Department of Public Health will follow the Durham County Government winter holidays and New Year’s Day schedules. For Public Health emergencies during the holiday closure, including communicable disease reporting, environmental health, and suspected foodborne illnesses, please call 911 and ask for the Durham County Department of Public Health’s response team member on-call. For more information about services provided by the Durham County Department of Public Health, call (919) 560-7600 or visit Public Health’s homepage at www.dcopublichealth.org.

Durham County Social Services

The Durham County Department of Social Services (DSS) will also follow the Durham County Government winter holidays and New Year’s Day schedules. Residents are encouraged to call (919) 560-4600 to reach an on-call social worker to report child abuse and neglect or adult abuse and neglect. DSS will reopen and operate according to its normal hours of operation. Get more information about the Durham County Department of Social Services here.