City launches temporary bin exchange program
Image
Residents can arrange to replace damaged green bins and
blue boxes
With City of Vaughan facilities closed due to
COVID-19, the Environmental Services department is piloting a program to allow
residents to replace broken City blue boxes and green bins through home
delivery. All broken blue boxes and green bins branded with the City of Vaughan
logo are eligible for free exchange. This is the latest initiative implemented
by the City to support residents during COVID-19.
Deliveries will be made on the day following scheduled
waste collection, subject to availability. To request an exchange and arrange a
delivery, residents can call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. For more
information, visit vaughan.ca/waste.
Garbage
tags
Garbage tags can also be purchased from
the safety of home by calling Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. The resident’s
address, garbage tag quantity and payment will be taken at the time of the
call. Garbage tags will be mailed out within one business day. The garbage
limit is three items every other week – including bulky items. A paid garbage
tag is required for any item exceeding the three-item limit.
Safe waste handling
It is important that waste is safely
packaged and does not expose anyone to used personal protective equipment (PPE)
like medical masks, gloves and disposable wipes. These items need to be bagged and
disposed of as garbage.
Citizens should continue to practise
good infection prevention and control when handling any waste by washing their
hands and any surfaces that it may have contacted.
The following steps should be taken
when handling waste:
- Carefully bag all garbage and green bin materials in plastic bags.
- All personal hygiene and sanitary products, including medical masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes and baby wipes, must be placed in the garbage. Do not place these items in the blue box as they will not be collected.
- If anyone in a household is ill, place any item that has come into contact with the mouth, nose or eyes into the garbage. This includes items that would normally be placed into the green bin (tissues, napkins) or blue box (water/beverage bottles, pop cans).
- Do not flush any disinfectant wipes or baby wipes down the toilet as they can damage plumbing and cause sewer blockages and backups.
The City’s waste collection
contractor, Miller Waste Systems Inc., continues to use the recommended PPE to
protect workers from hazards they may encounter while handling residential
waste bags and bins. The City also urges citizens to do their part and help
protect collection staff by safely handling their waste and bins and refraining
from approaching the waste collectors as they perform their work.
Waste-less
Virtual Visits
For
residents finding they are putting more garbage to the curb, City staff are
offering one-on-one coaching sessions to help sort out more material into the
blue box and green bin, which have no collection limits. These virtual sessions
are designed to help citizens understand what goes where, reduce landfill and
answer any questions about the City’s waste collection services.
Staff
can connect through FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype and Zoom. Book an appointment
today by calling Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or emailing accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
Residents
can receive customized notifications about their collections by downloading the
Recycle
Coach mobile app. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/waste.
Grasscycling
Keep lawns lush and healthy. This
involves leaving grass clippings on the lawn after a fresh cut to allow them to
break down naturally. Grasscycling has several benefits:
- Natural fertilizer – since grass is made up of natural elements – like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, clippings release those nutrients and moisture back into the lawn once they decompose. This nutrient-rich fertilization results in a healthier root system that increases not only the beautification of a yard, but its resistance to disease, drought and insects.
- Saves water – because grass blades are made up of 85 per cent water, they reduce the need to water lawns.
- Saves time and energy – by eliminating the need to collect and dispose of grass clippings.
- Good for the environment – reduces waste and there is no pollution run-off and no damage to the air, soil or wildlife.
Here are a few tips to achieve the best
grasscycling results:
- Lawn mower blades must be sharp. Dull lawn mower blades tend to tear grass, making the lawn prone to disease and discoloration at the tips.
- Mower height should be set to cut only one-third of the grass blades at one time. This ensures the lawn’s root system will be able to support itself in a time of drought.
- The lawn should be at least nine centimetres (3.5 inches) in height before mowing and trimmed down to six centimetres (2.5 inches).
- Do not cut grass during a drought or when grass is wet.
- For more information about City matters, please call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca.
- 30 -