Help keep Vaughan squeaky clean
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Proper waste-disposal etiquette makes a difference
As the snow melts away for the season, it’s much easier to notice litter and debris left on City streets, sidewalks and in parks. The City of Vaughan encourages you to help keep Vaughan clean by properly sorting your waste items in the correct bins and disposing of them on the appropriate collection days.
Proper blue-box etiquette also makes a difference. Here are some tips to ensure recycling ends up, and stays, in the blue box:
- Leave space (three inches) at the top of the blue box. Do not overfill it.
- Too much material? Consider purchasing additional blue boxes or using a larger blue box (up to 121 litres, no lids or wheels) to match the amount of material.
- Put heavier items on top of lighter ones.
- On windy days, consider putting recycling out the following week.
- Waste should be placed at the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before collection and no later than 7 a.m. the day of collection.
What can I put in the blue box?
Properly sorting and disposing of your waste helps keep Vaughan clean and collection days running smoothly. Unsure what waste items can go in the blue box?
Below are examples of items that are recyclable in Vaughan:
- plastic bottles, jugs and containers
- milk/juice cartons and drink boxes (no straws)
- steel/aluminum food and beverage cans, trays, plates and foil
- empty paint and aerosol cans (lids removed)
- unbroken glass bottles and jars
- household paper and paper products (books, magazines, etc.)
- cardboard, broken down and flattened containers (detergent, dry food boxes, etc.)
- corrugated cardboard
The City offers an online sorting tool to help you understand what waste items go where. The Recycle Coach app for mobile phones is also available for download. The app provides waste-less tips and a personalized waste schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week.
You can also view the 2021 Waste Collection Schedule (PDF) online. The schedule includes Double-Up Days, leaf and yard waste collection and other important waste reminders. For more information about waste and litter in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/waste.
Reporting litter
For the safety and well-being of everyone in the community, including front-line staff, littering and illegal dumping are prohibited under the Littering and Dumping By-law 103-2020 (PDF). If you see an instance of illegal dumping or litter, please report it to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. Individuals found dumping their household garbage are subject to a maximum fine of $5,000 per offence.
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.
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