Durham Works

Whether you’re spring cleaning, Marie Kondo-ing, or simply looking to clear some space in your garage, Reuse Days are the perfect opportunity to give new life to old items. At Reuse Days, the Works Department partners with local charities to donate good-quality, reusable items—keeping them out of the waste stream.

What kind of items can be donated? Acceptable items include clothing, textiles, furniture, appliances, cabinets, countertops and most other reusable renovation materials. 

Upcoming Reuse...

Be sure to order your FREE copy of Fusion Landscaping Guide for Homeowners to prepare for spring.

Fusion landscapes merge the lush splendour of traditional gardens with modern, eco-friendly designs that are affordable, require less work and save water. Create a landscape that serves all the different needs you have for your yard, from entertaining, kid’s play area, a quiet place to read and all your other needs.

Learn how to design your landscape and achieve the beauty and function you desire.

Get tips...

Want to check your route for major traffic issues before hitting the road? Durham Region’s Traffic Watch map is a live, interactive tool that shows issues that may affect your travel throughout Durham Region.

Traffic Watch is a useful tool for residents who are looking to find better routes around Durham by avoiding traffic disruptions. Images from traffic cameras are updated every minute, giving users an almost real-time view of traffic flow.

Traffic Watch merges information from the Region,...

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...