Help keep our parks clean!

As seasonal park amenities open for your enjoyment, the City of Vaughan is reminding you that keeping these spaces safe and clean is a community effort. Every ‘litter’ bit helps; no action to reduce litter is too small!

Littering has a negative impact on the quality of life for everyone. It is harmful to the environment, dangerous for pets and wildlife as they may eat or be injured by discarded items, unpleasant to look at, and costs taxpayer dollars to clean up.

Let’s work together to keep Vaughan clean! As the City continues its annual spring-cleaning blitz, there are many ways you can get involved to help ensure Vaughan remains litter-free.

In the community:

• Put waste in its place: while outside, place your waste in the nearest garbage, recycling or organics bin. Be sure to use the right one! Take flyers and mail home to recycle – don’t leave them on the ground near your mailbox.

• Reuse and refill: bring a reusable cup while walking or on the go and take cloth tote bags with you when shopping.

• Bag it and bin it: 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 $300. To report pet waste on public property, contact the City at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.

At home:

• Do not overfill your blue box. Leave space (7.5 centimetres or three inches) at the top of the box. 

• Place heavier items, such as glass bottles and jars, on top of lighter ones, such as paper and plastic containers.

• Flatten, cut down and bundle cardboard securely, and pack them in the blue box carefully. 

• Purchase additional blue boxes or use a larger blue box (up to 121 litres, no attached lid or wheels) if you have too many materials. 

• Consider putting your recycling out the following week if it’s a windy day. The City collects unlimited blue boxes weekly!

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

Littering and illegal dumping are prohibited under the Dumping By-law 103-2020 (PDF). 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 issued a $500 fine for each offence. Failure to comply with a notice is also a chargeable offence and may result in the City removing the waste and debris at the homeowner’s expense.

To report full or overfilled bins around the community, or to report illegal dumping, contact Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca. Please note community mailboxes belong to, and are maintained by, Canada Post – this includes addressing litter, snow, ice and damage to the mailboxes. If you spot litter or vandalism at your community mailbox, submit a service request to Canada Post. You can also contact them by phone at 1-866-607-6301 or on social media through X or Facebook.

By helping to reduce litter, you are demonstrating respect for your neighbours, neighbourhoods and shared community spaces. Let’s ensure Vaughan remains a place where everyone can live, work and play in a clean and healthy city.   

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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