Pack up the holidays right!
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Learn where to dispose of broken décor, Christmas trees, old toys and more
As you pack up decorations following your New Year’s Eve celebrations and put away holiday table settings, you may be wondering where the broken stemware should go. Or maybe you’re trying to make room for all the new toys gifted over the holidays. If so, the City of Vaughan is here to provide you with waste reduction tips and reminders to sort these items correctly. Reducing and properly recycling waste are some of the simple ways everyone can make a difference.
Broken glass
If you have broken glass from ornaments, glassware or décor, safely package the pieces in a sealed cardboard box labelled “broken glass” and place it at the curb on your regularly scheduled garbage collection day. This helps waste collectors stay safe and collection days run smoothly.
Christmas trees
For the weeks of Jan. 4 and Jan. 11, real Christmas trees will be collected curbside. Christmas tree collection is in addition to your garbage limit and runs for two weeks. Artificial trees are collected as garbage at the curb and must be bagged. As a reminder, Double-Up Days are occurring this week or the week of Jan. 11, (depending on your zone). During this time, you can place up to six items at the curb – no paid tags are required. All materials must be set out by 7 a.m. on collection day. Crews will not return for a missed collection.
For the safety of the City’s waste collectors, follow these tips to ensure a quick and efficient pickup:
- Do not place your real Christmas tree in a tree bag or plastic bag as that will not be collected.
- Remove all decorations (including tinsel and ornaments) and stands prior to collection.
- Ensure your tree is less than two metres (seven feet) in height. Cut the tree in half if it exceeds this height.
Any remaining yard waste material can be set out with Christmas trees for collection. Please ensure yard waste bags are kept dry and only set out on collection day.
Real Christmas trees can also be dropped off at York Region Waste Depots that accept yard waste (fees apply). The Vaughan location is at 130 McCleary Crt. Visit york.ca/WasteDepots for more information.
Plastic toys and leftover gifts
Before an item is tossed away for good, make sure it can’t be recycled for a new purpose or donated to a local shelter or charity. Did you know not all plastics are recyclable, even if they have the recycling symbol on the product or packaging? Check the City’s online sorting tool using the search bar to know where an item belongs, before recycling a plastic toy or leftover gift.
Styrofoam™, black plastic containers and disposable cutlery
Styrofoam™ and black plastic cannot be recycled by York Region. Consider up-cycling these items for a new purpose such as arts and crafts materials. Otherwise, Styrofoam™, including takeout containers, cups, packaging peanuts and meat trays, belong in the garbage. Black plastic, including black plastic forks, knives, spoons and containers, usually used for takeout, also belong in the garbage, not the blue box.
Still unsure what waste items go where? Download the waste reduction app, Recycle Coach, through the Apple App Store or Google Play to help determine what goes where. The app also provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put at the curb each week.
By 2031, the City of Vaughan’s goal is for each household in Vaughan to reduce and recycle materials equivalent to an entire bag of garbage per collection and reduce food waste in organics by planning and consuming all food purchased.
The City of Vaughan is a leader in waste management. Vaughan’s early commitment to York Region’s SM4RT Living Plan (Waste Management Master Plan) further strengthens that promise. This plan identifies more than 60 initiatives that set the stage for waste management to 2059 and beyond, focusing on the four Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover – working toward a world in which nothing goes to waste. The City actively participates in waste reduction programs and initiatives to reduce waste, including Curbside Giveaway Days, backyard composting and the Recycle Coach App among many more.
Looking for a challenge? Share your waste reduction efforts with a selfie or another picture or video using the hashtag #VaughanWastesLess on social media. For more information on waste services in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/waste.
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