Don’t be a litter bug!

While out for a walk, bike ride or jog around your neighbourhood, have you ever paused to appreciate Vaughan’s greenery? From the luscious trees to serene parks, our city has a lot of urban life and natural beauty to offer – and it’s a shared responsibility to maintain it. 

Littering is never cool, and by choosing not to do it, you can help keep our community safe, clean and beautiful for everyone’s enjoyment. 

Be a guardian of cleanliness 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to protect our environment and keep Vaughan looking spotless:

• Report littering and illegal dumping. Littering and illegal dumping are prohibited under the City of Vaughan’s Dumping By-law 103-2020 (PDF). If you witness either of these actions, report it to Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.
• Use the right bins. While outside, place your waste in the nearest garbage, blue box or green bin. Be sure to use the right one!
• Reuse and refill. Bring a reusable bottle or cup while walking or on the go and take cloth tote bags with you when shopping.
• Bag and bin pet waste. When walking outside with your pets, clean up after them and use the waste bins provided. If the bins are full, take your garbage and pet waste home. It belongs in the green bin at home or waste bins out in the community. As a reminder, you must pick up after your pet. The fine for failing to do so is $200. To report pet waste on public property, call 905-832-2281 or email service@vaughan.ca.
• Report full or overfilled public waste bins. If you notice full or overflowing bins around the community, report it to Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca. Doing so will generate a service request for staff to action in priority sequence. 

What we do

Keeping our streets, sidewalks, parks and greenspaces safe and clean is a  priority. This includes:

• Cleaning and maintenance. Throughout the year, our crews collect litter from outdoor spaces and boulevards. Approximately 96,000 kilograms (211,643 pounds) of litter and illegal dumping have been removed this year from City-owned land. Using Madvac (a litter collection vacuum that targets hard-to-reach areas), we can easily collect debris from the ground. Watch this video to see Madvac in action!
• Installing new bins. Earlier this summer, we installed new garbage bins at select parks and community centres. These bins were designed with a small entrance hole to help reduce illegal dumping and windblown garbage. They also deter wildlife by eliminating easily accessible food sources.

Did you know it’s against the law to litter?

Remember that littering is not only harmful to our environment, but it’s also again the law. Residents who do not keep their properties clear of litter, waste and debris may be issued a notice to clean up their property and/or a fine for each offence. Failure to comply with a notice is also an offence and may result in the City removing the waste and debris at the homeowner’s expense.

Fines aside, littering has a negative impact on the health, safety and well-being of the community and the environment. It’s also dangerous for pets and wildlife as they may eat or be injured by discarded items. When you choose not to litter, you demonstrate respect for your neighbours and shared community spaces. 

Dispose responsibly 

By putting your recyclables in the right bin and following proper waste set out guidelines, you can help reduce litter in your neighbourhood. Here are a few tips to keep in mind ahead of your next collection day:

• Do not overfill your blue box. Leave space (7.5 centimetres or three inches) at the top of the box. 
• Purchase additional blue boxes or use a larger blue box (up to 121 litres, with no attached lid or wheels) if you have too many materials. 
• Place heavier items, such as glass bottles and jars, on top of lighter ones, such as paper and plastic containers, so they don’t blow away.
• Flatten, cut down and bundle cardboard securely, and pack them in the blue box carefully. 
• Consider putting your recycling out the morning of your collection day if there’s rainy or windy weather in the overnight forecast. Or, wait until the following week to set out these items. We collect unlimited blue boxes weekly!
• Take flyers and mail home to recycle instead of leaving them at the Canada Post mailbox pad.

To read more about the City’s commitment to protecting and respecting the environment, and fostering a sustainable community today and for future generations, visit vaughan.ca/litter.

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