It’s Waste Reduction Week!

Follow along for daily tips to waste less

Have you ever wondered how clothing and electronics are recycled? Do you know what the sharing economy is and how to participate? Well, there’s no better time to learn than during Waste Reduction Week! 

The City of Vaughan proclaims Waste Reduction Week annually to encourage you to adopt waste-less habits and learn about our collective responsibility to the planet to cut down on what’s sent to landfills. The week runs from Monday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Oct. 27, with a waste-related theme each day to promote different ways we can all waste less:

• Monday, Oct. 21: repair
• Tuesday, Oct. 22: textiles 
• Wednesday, Oct. 23: e-waste 
• Thursday, Oct. 24: single-use plastics
• Friday, Oct. 25: food waste
• Saturday, Oct. 26: sharing economy 
• Sunday, Oct. 27: swap

Make sure you’re following the City of Vaughan on social media because, throughout the week, we will share simple waste reduction tips on X, Facebook and Instagram – with suggested actions you can easily try at home to do your part!

Today, let’s talk about repairing items!

Our first waste reduction daily theme is repair. If your clothing, accessories, toys, gadgets or more are damaged or need an upgrade, don’t give up on them – repair them! Repairing items saves you money on buying new ones and keeps more items out of landfills. Additionally, you’ll help prevent the need for a new product to be made, thereby reducing resources and materials used.

Learn how to make simple repairs to your items by searching for online tutorials that provide instructions. Alternatively, visit a local repair shop to get the job done. York Region offers a series of Repair Cafés where you can bring in broken items and get them fixed for free. Learn more about upcoming Repair Cafés near you.

Waste Reduction Week is an example of the City’s commitment to protecting the environment and fostering a sustainable future – a priority outlined in the Council-approved 2022-2026 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. 

Learn more about the City’s waste reduction commitments.

Need help sorting waste?

If you can’t remember what items belong in which bins, check the online ‘What Goes Where’ sorting tool or use the Recycle Coach app, downloadable from the Apple App Store or Google Play. The app also provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week. 

Buy blue boxes and green bins

If you need a new blue box or green bin, you can purchase them online through Service Vaughan and have them delivered right to your door. Alternatively, buy these items in person at select community centres, while supplies last. You can also sign up through Service Vaughan to exchange a broken City-issued blue box or green bin for a new one. 

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

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.