Durham County Council Services: A Resident's Guide

Most of the everyday services that keep the city running, from emptying the bins to issuing parking permits, are provided by Durham County Council, the unitary authority for the whole county. If you have just moved to Durham, or simply want to know where to go to sort something out, here is a plain-English guide to the council services residents use most, and how to find them online.

Bins and recycling

Household waste in Durham is collected on a fortnightly cycle. The grey wheelie bin takes general, non-recyclable waste, while the grey bin with the blue lid is for mixed recycling, paper, card, plastic bottles, glass, tins and cans, and the two are emptied on alternating weeks. A separate weekly food-waste caddy takes all food scraps, peelings, tea bags and eggshells. You can check your own collection days and what goes in which bin by entering your postcode on the council's website.

Best for: Check your collection days and bin rules at durham.gov.uk/bins.

Council tax

Council tax pays for the bulk of local services, and how much you pay depends on your property's valuation band. The council's online account lets you set up or amend a direct debit, apply for discounts and exemptions, such as the single-person discount or student exemptions, which are common in a university city, and tell them you are moving in or out.

Parking and Blue Badges

The council manages many of the city's car parks and residents' parking schemes, along with the park-and-ride service that keeps cars out of the historic centre, covered in our Durham Park and Ride guide. Residents with a disability that affects their mobility may qualify for a Blue Badge, which allows parking in designated bays; applications are made through the council, currently cost a small fee, and can take several weeks to process, so it is worth applying in good time.

Schools, libraries and leisure

The council is also the authority for schools admissions, public libraries and much of the area's leisure provision. Applications for primary and secondary school places go through Durham County Council, and its network of libraries, including Clayport Library in the city centre, offers free membership, computers and children's activities. Leisure facilities such as Freeman's Quay are run in partnership with the council too.

Reporting a problem

Potholes, fly-tipping, broken street lights, missed bin collections and similar issues can all be reported quickly through the council's "report it" pages online, which is usually faster than phoning. You will normally get a reference number so you can track progress. For most residents, the council website is the single best starting point for any local-services question.

---

This guide points you to official Durham County Council services; always check durham.gov.uk for the latest details, fees and deadlines.