City moves up leaf and yard waste schedule
Image
Collection to begin April 21 on scheduled garbage
weeks
With more people staying home and practising
physical distancing as a result of COVID-19, the City of Vaughan is reinstating
leaf and yard waste collection in response to community needs.
Pick up will begin the week of April 21 collected
every second week on the same day as regularly scheduled garbage pick-ups. Depending
on the service area, collection will begin the week of April 21 (yellow zone)
or April 28 (blue zone).
Due to volume, collection may be slower
than usual – residents are encouraged to leave leaf and yard waste out into the
following day if it is not picked up. Visit vaughan.ca/waste
for leaf and yard waste program details and requirements.
The City asks that large or bulky items,
such as furniture, be held and not placed outside for pick-up to help
collectors manage the additional garbage volumes during this time.
Safety guidelines
To protect waste collectors in Vaughan
during the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are reminded to place all personal
protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and masks, and personal hygiene and
sanitary products – including wipes and tissues – in the garbage.
Do not place these items in the blue box
– recycling will not be collected if the
box contains any of these items.
Citizens are urged to practise good
infection prevention and control when handling any waste by washing their hands
immediately and any surfaces that waste 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.
- If anyone in a household is ill, place any item that has come into contact with their 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.
- Please maintain physical distancing and do not approach the waste collectors as they work.
- Heavier items should be placed at the top of the blue box to avoid materials from blowing away.
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.
Litter reports
Litter
has recently been reported on public and private property in Vaughan. Littering
and dumping are prohibited and those who violate this by-law may be subject to
a $205 fine. Any instances of illegal dumping should be reported to Access
Vaughan at 905-832-2281. Instances of illegal dumping or litter can be reported
to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. The By-law and Compliance, Licensing and
Permit Services, Enforcement Services team will investigate and take the
appropriate action.
Private
property conditions are governed by the City’s Debris By-law and Property
Standards By-law. Those who do not keep their properties clear of litter, waste
and debris may be subject to a fine of $5,000 for each offence. As well, the
City may have the waste and debris removed at the owner’s expense and it may be
subject to an Order to Comply, under the Building Code Act. Failing to comply
with an order is a chargeable offense.
City crews have embarked on cleanup efforts
to clear garbage and debris off public property across the city. This program
also includes street sweeping.
Continue to check vaughan.ca/waste and vaughan.ca/COVID19 for updates and changes to service
levels and schedules.
For more information about City matters,
please call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca.
To receive the City’s latest COVID-19
updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook
and Instagram channels.
- 30 -