Pack up the holidays right!

Jan. 1, 2023 10:00 a.m.
​How to dispose of broken glass, old electronics, Christmas trees and more in Vaughan

 

As you pack up decorations following your holiday celebrations, you may wonder where to dispose of some items, such as broken glass, old electronics or your Christmas tree. If so, the City of Vaughan is here to provide tips and reminders to start the year off right and sort these items correctly!

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. Doing this helps waste collectors stay safe when picking up your waste.                                                                        

Old electronics

If you’ve upgraded your electronics recently, you may be looking to dispose of old ones. E-waste (electronic waste) – such as cellphones, cables, computers, televisions, headphones, video game consoles, printers and more – can be safely disposed of at a York Region waste depot. Never place e-waste or batteries in the garbage or blue box as they are not collected curbside. Batteries and cellphones are also accepted for safe disposal at Vaughan Public Libraries.

There are a couple of other environmentally friendly options for getting rid of your old electronics:

  • Donate gently used or old, but in good working condition electronics to friends and family, a local charity or a second-hand shop.
  • Visit recyclemyelectronics.ca to search Vaughan’s nearest retail recycling location by postal code.

Christmas trees

For the weeks of Tuesday, Jan. 3 and Tuesday, Jan. 10, real Christmas trees will be collected curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day. Artificial trees are collected as garbage and must be bagged.

For the safety of the City’s waste collectors, follow these tips:

  • Do not place your real Christmas tree in a tree bag or plastic bag.
  • Remove all decorations (including tinsel and ornaments) and stands before collection.
  • Ensure your tree is less than two metres (seven feet) in height. Cut the tree in half if it exceeds this height.

Real Christmas trees can also be dropped off at a York Region waste depot that accepts yard waste (fees will apply). Visit york.ca/WasteDepots for more information. 

If you have leftover leaf and yard waste materials, you can also place them curbside during Christmas tree collection.

Double-Up Days reminder

On your scheduled garbage collection day during the weeks of Tuesday, Jan. 3 or Tuesday, Jan. 10, you can place up to six items at the curb – no paid tags are required. Some large and bulky items, such as furniture and mattresses, can be placed curbside and count as one item toward the six-item limit. Ensure items do not exceed 68 kilograms (150 pounds) and are free of hazards, such as protruding nails. If disassembled, furniture parts must be safely secured together in a bundle not exceeding 20 kilograms (45 pounds). The City reserves the right to refuse unsafe, overweight or oversized items. For more information, visit the City’s large and bulky items webpage.

What goes where?

Are you still unsure what bin a waste item belongs in? 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. For additional help, use the City’s online ‘What Goes Where?’ sorting tool so you can quickly and easily check where a waste item belongs.

For more information on waste services in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/waste.

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