Durham Works

The leaks in your home that have the potential to waste the most water are often the most difficult to detect. That’s why it isn’t unusual for a leaking toilet to result in a water bill as high as $1,000!

The most common toilet leak is caused by a worn-out flapper valve. The best way to detect toilet leaks is to order the Works Department’s dye test strips to place in your toilet tank. Once you have put a dye strip in the tank, wait a few minutes. If the dye appears in the toilet bowl, you have a...

We encourage residents to take advantage of the various types of curbside collection the Region offers, which are funded by your annual property taxes. In addition to garbage, green bin and blue box collection in most municipalities, collection also includes a full suite of curbside services for scrap metal, large appliances, waste electronics, porcelain (such as toilets), yard waste, Christmas trees and batteries.

User fees collected at our waste management facilities help fund the cost of operating...

Salt is necessary to prevent slippery conditions, but using it improperly can harm our drinking water sources. Too much salt can run off into water sources, affecting our drinking water quality.

Follow these strategies for the proper use of salt:

• Shovel as soon as possible during or after a snowfall to prevent ice from developing.
• Redirect downspouts away from walkways and driveways to prevent ice and runoff.
• Store snow so that it will not run across paved surfaces towards catchbasins or ditches.
• Use...

1. Take-out coffee cups

Coffee cups don’t belong in the blue box. The plastic lining that prevents them from leaking also makes them unsuitable for recycling.

2. Plastic bags

Durham Region doesn’t accept plastic bags. Residents are advised instead to return them to retailers participating in the Plastic Bag Take-Back program.

3. Soiled cardboard

Paperboard and cardboard containers or packaging that have been soiled with food should be thrown in the green bin rather than the blue box. Contaminated paper...

• Don’t be late. Set your waste out by 7 a.m. the morning of your collection day, but no sooner than 7 p.m. the evening before.
• Keep the weight down. Containers and bags should weigh no more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) each. Items that are too heavy will not be collected.
• Winter safety. During the winter, ensure material is free of snow and ice and visible to the collection crew. Do not place material on top of snow banks.
• Avoid accidents. Wrap broken glass and sharp objects in a puncture-resistant...