The changes, during Christmas and New Year weeks only, affect rubbish and recycling bins which are normally emptied on a Friday.
Collections which would have been due on Friday 25 December will instead take place on Monday 28 December.
And collections due on Friday 1 January will be carried out on Monday 4 January.
All other collections, including those due on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, will not be affected.
Normal collections will resume on Tuesday 5 January.
Residents are also advised that Durham County Council’s bulky waste collection service will not operate between Monday 21 December and Monday 4 January.
People can arrange to have their real Christmas tree collected free of charge by contacting the council on 03000 261 000 before Friday 8 January.
People can check their bin collection dates by entering their postcode on the My Durham section of the council’s website – www.durham.gov.uk