As more North Carolinians are forced to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they are also generating more household trash and recycling. But some cities and counties are changing or suspending some types of disposal services, particularly at convenience centers.
The City of Durham has closed its convenience center on Club Boulevard, which accepts trash, recyclables, e-waste, appliances, tires, textiles and household hazardous waste, to the public, except for large commercial accounts. Curbside collection for trash, yard waste and bulky items are not affected by the closure.
However, the city has implemented a change to cardboard collection. Because of COVID-19 and guidance from the National Institutes of Health, Durham city residents can no longer request pick-up of large amounts of cardboard, known as “special call-in” service. All cardboard must fit inside the blue recycling bins.
The new coronavirus “is stable” on cardboard for up to 24 hours, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated “there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures,” it is possible that cardboard recently left at the curb could transmit the disease. Sanitation workers would have to pick up that material since it is not in a bin.
Meanwhile, Durham County has temporarily suspended bulky item disposal at its four convenience centers: Redwood, Parkwood, Rougemont and Bahama. The centers are used by residents who live in unincorporated parts of the county.
Bulky loads include large unbagged items such as furniture, debris from do-it-yourself projects, broken appliances, large toys, etc. Residents with bulky loads are encouraged to seek a private transfer station to dispose of items, according to a Durham County press release.