As Durham residents prepare for the holiday cheer, the City of Durham has laid out its service changes for the Christmas and New Year's 2025, aiming to ease the festive period's altered rhythms. In a statement, city officials announced the closure of most City of Durham offices, including City Hall and all non-emergency facilities, on December 23, 24, 25, and January 1, in observance of the festivities. Residents planning to tidy their homes and neighborhoods can take note that the Solid Waste Management Department will delay services starting December 25, carrying this change through the first full week of January.
For those looking to dispose of their live holiday trees sustainably, the City will provide free drop-off locations from January 2 to February 1 during specified times. According to the City's announcement, the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center and additional drop-off points at six park locations across the city will be available to accept trees. Detailed in the announcement, houses taller than six feet must cut their trees in half and remove all decorations and hardware before dropping them off.
Furthermore, curbside collections for solid waste will also observe a schedule shift, with services delayed by one business day beginning on Christmas Day. Households who currently subscribe to yard waste or exempt services are also eligible for free curbside collection of live trees. For ease of preparation, live trees set aside for curbside collection must adhere to the same disposal guidelines as mentioned by the City of Durham.
On matters of recreation and transportation, Durham residents may need to plan around certain closures. The Durham Parks and Recreation offices, recreation centers, rental facilities, and indoor pools will take brief hiatuses on December 23, 24, 25, and January 1. The downtown parking, offering free parking on City-designated holidays, presents an opportunity for residents and out-of-town visitors alike to enjoy the downtown area without the worry of parking fees. As for public transport, GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS have modified schedules, with holiday service in effect on most routes, excluding Christmas Day, and Sunday-level service on New Year's Day.
Residents in need of services or assistance during the holiday closures have been advised by the City to utilize the Durham One Call system, which will forward service requests to the appropriate department. Emergency services for water and sewer will also remain available, with after-hours calls being directed to the Water Management Department's emergency number.
