Trees down in Durham? The city is picking branches up from the curb. What to know.

After the lights clicked back on and the roads reopened, many Durham residents still see remnants of Tuesday’s powerful storm scattered across their neighborhoods.

The city expects picking up the large trees could take until mid-September. It is prioritizing emergency cleanups involving power lines, walkways and streets.

In the meantime, residents able to collect the small debris from their yards can get free curbside pickup.

Here’s what to know:

• Put tree branches and brush in a pile at the curb.
• Do it by the end of the day Sunday (Aug. 20).
• Give crews until Friday (Aug. 25) to make it to your neighborhood.
• Tree limbs should be less than 6 feet long and 2 inches in diameter.
• Set it in a spot where the solid waste truck arms aren’t blocked by a mailbox, fence, fire hydrant, tree or vehicle.

After Friday, residents can submit a request for “bulky brush service” online or by contacting Durham One Call at 919-560-1200.

Mary Helen Moore

The News & Observer

Mary Helen Moore covers Durham for The News & Observer. She grew up in Eastern North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill before spending several years working in newspapers in Florida. Outside of work, you might find her reading, fishing, baking, or going on walks (mainly to look at plants).