How to manage your recycling on windy days

No matter the season, there is one weather condition we can expect: wind. On windy days, your recyclables can blow out onto the road if they aren’t correctly placed in the blue box. Here are the City of Vaughan’s must-know tips to help you prevent this from happening:

• Do not overfill your blue box. Leave space (approximately 7.5 centimetres or three inches) at the top of the box. 
• Buy extra blue boxes or use a larger blue box (up to 121 litres, with no attached lid or wheels) if you have lots of material – we collect unlimited blue boxes weekly at no cost!
• 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.
• If the forecast calls for wind overnight, wait until the morning to put out your waste before 7 a.m. Alternatively, consider putting your recycling out the following week or taking it to a York Region waste depot.

Do your materials get stuck in the bins?

As it gets colder outside, some materials may freeze inside your bins and adhere to the interior. Items that do not fall out when waste collectors tip the bin will be left inside the bin. Crews cannot return for bins that were not fully emptied due to freezing. To help prevent your materials from freezing, place your bins curbside in the morning by 7 a.m. instead of leaving them outside overnight.

For more information on recycling in Vaughan, visit the City’s blue box recycling webpage.

Need a new blue box?

Purchase blue boxes and green bins online through Service Vaughan and schedule a delivery right to your home! Alternatively, buy blue boxes and green bins at select community centres while supplies last. You can also sign up to exchange a broken City-issued blue box or green bin for a new one through Service Vaughan.

To learn more about the City’s waste services, visit vaughan.ca/waste. 

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