Safe waste handling matters
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Practise proper garbage and recycling disposal to protect our collectors
Safe waste handling helps keep collectors and recycling facility operators safe. The City of Vaughan encourages you to put your best waste forward on collection days – this means practising good infection prevention and control when handling garbage, recycling and organics, and placing items in the correct bins. Don’t “waste” the opportunity to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Vaughan.
The following steps should be taken when handling waste:
- Place masks, gloves and other PPE in the garbage.
- Bag all garbage and green bin materials securely.
- Place any item that has contacted the mouth, nose or eyes of someone in your household who is ill into the garbage. This includes items that would normally be placed into the green bin (tissues, napkins) or blue box (water/beverage bottles and pop cans).
- Wash your hands after handling waste and any surfaces waste items have contacted.
- Do not flush any disinfectant wipes or baby wipes down the toilet as they can damage household plumbing and cause sewer blockages and backups.
The City’s waste collection contractor, Miller Waste Systems Inc., continues to use the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect workers from hazards they may encounter while handling residential waste bags and bins. The City urges you to do your part and help protect collection staff by safely handling waste and bins and refraining from approaching the waste collectors as they perform their work.
What waste item goes in the blue box?
The following items go in the blue box (recycling):
- 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
When putting items in a blue box, it’s important to rinse out food containers such as soup cans, yogurt containers, pop bottles, jam jars and more, to ensure they can be recycled. The waste facility is unable to wash and clean recyclables.
Tissues, paper towels and sanitary products are examples of common items that go in the green bin.
To make waste collection information even more convenient this year, use the City’s 2021 Waste Collection Schedule, which was mailed to all residents in December, or download the PDF version online. The new and improved schedule provides a more concise format and offers a year at a glance, allowing you to quickly reference important weekly information such as pickup schedules.
For personalized waste collection reminders, download the Recycle Coach app from the App Store or on Google Play.
Waste placement in the winter
There may be snowbanks where you typically place garbage, recycling and organics on collection days. To help ensure waste can be collected during winter months, blue and green bins should be kept off the road and snowbanks. Set your waste on the right side of the driveway when facing your house, approximately one metre (three feet) from the curbside to avoid snowplows. For more information on waste placement in the winter, visit the City’s website.
Blue box and green bin exchange program
Are your blue boxes or green bins damaged? The City is offering a temporary bin exchange program by home delivery, which allows you to replace broken City-issued blue boxes and green bins that have the City logo. To request an exchange and arrange a delivery, visit vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan.
Continue to check vaughan.ca/waste and vaughan.ca/COVID19 for updates and changes to service levels and schedules.
To receive the City’s latest updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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