Sort holiday waste right!

Learn where to discard Christmas trees, wrapping paper, disposable cutlery and more 

Let’s end the year on a high note by reducing waste and putting your seasonal items in the right bins! Here’s what to do with excess wrapping paper, disposable cutlery, leftover food, Christmas trees and more:

Wrapping paper, gift bags and ribbons

Cardboard boxes, wrapping paper and gift bags that are 100 per cent paper go in the blue box. Ensure cardboard is broken down, flattened and bundled securely. Ribbons, rope handles, foil-type paper and cards with glitter are all harmful to the recycling process – place these in the garbage.

Aluminum trays, black plastic containers and disposable cutlery

Emptied and rinsed aluminum trays can be disposed of in the blue box – be sure to wash away all food residues. Oils, fats and grease (for example, from bacon or turkey) go in the green bin, never down the drain. 

While some plastic containers are recyclable, black plastic is not. Toss black plastic in the garbage – this includes black plastic forks, knives, spoons and containers. 

Paper plates, paper towels and napkins

Paper plates, paper towels and napkins go in the green bin. Place your green bin items in compostable bags if you can, but plastic bags are also accepted. Please bag and tie securely and ensure your bins weigh less than 20.5 kilograms (45 pounds) for the safety of our waste collectors.

Food leftovers

If you have leftovers, don’t throw them away – food scraps are not garbage! Instead, try to eliminate food waste by: 

• getting creative with leftovers by transforming them into a new meal for another day.
• planning meals ahead so you only buy what you will eat.
• storing or freezing perishable items such as meat and produce properly so they last longer. Check York Region’s Good Food resource page for instructions and ideas.
• placing leftover food in the green bin. Green bin material is transformed into nutrient-rich compost that is used on farmers’ fields to grow our crops.
• turning food scraps into compost to fertilize your garden – you can still compost throughout the winter! 

Christmas tree collection

During the first two weeks of January, the City will collect real Christmas trees in both blue and yellow zones on your scheduled collection day. For example, if you live in the yellow zone and your collection day is Wednesday, you can put your Christmas tree curbside on either Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 or Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.

Be sure to remove all tinsel and ornaments first, and do not put the tree in a plastic bag. Ensure it is placed off the road and snowbanks so collection staff can access it safely. If you have broken glass ornaments, safely package the pieces in a cardboard box labelled “broken glass.”

What goes where?

Do you have other items to dispose of but aren’t sure where they belong? Check by using the City’s online ‘What Goes Where?’ sorting tool. You can also download the Recycle Coach app through the Apple App Store or Google Play to confirm where waste items belong. The app provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week. 

Need a new blue box or green bin?

Buying a waste bin has never been easier! Visit vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan to purchase your bin(s) and schedule a delivery right to your door. Alternatively, purchase 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 online through Service Vaughan.

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

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