Sort waste right this holiday season
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Learn where to dispose of wrapping paper, leftovers and more
The holiday season is upon us, and, with that, you may be enjoying more festive meals and sharing gifts with loved ones. When the celebrations are over, do you know what to do with excess wrapping paper, gift bags, leftover food, used disposable cutlery and napkins, and more? The City of Vaughan is here to help you understand how to sort these items correctly and reduce waste.
Wrapping paper, gift bags and ribbon
Wrapping paper and gift bags that are 100 per cent paper go in the blue box. Ribbons, rope handles, foil-type paper and cards with glitter are all harmful to the recycling process – put 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 food residue. Oils and fat (for example, from bacon or turkey) go in your green bin, never down the drain. Not all plastics are recyclable, even if they have the recycling symbol on the product or packaging. Black plastic cannot be recycled in York Region and must go in the garbage – this includes black plastic forks, knives, spoons and containers, usually used for takeout.
Paper plates, paper towels and napkins
Paper plates, paper towels and napkins go in the green bin. Using your green bin is easy! Place items in compostable bags if you can, but plastic bags are also accepted. Please bag and tie securely and ensure green bins set out to the curb for collection days weigh less than 20.5 kilograms (45 pounds).
Food leftovers
If you have leftovers, don’t just throw them away and add to landfills – consider taking these actions to reduce food waste:
- Get creative with leftovers – transform extra food into a new meal.et creative with leftovers – transform extra food into a new meal.
- Plan meals ahead so you only buy what you will eat.
- Store or freeze perishable items such as meat and produce properly so they last longer. Check York Region’s Good Food resource page for instructions and ideas.
- Turn your food scraps into garden fertilizer. The City provides backyard composters for sale at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan.
- As a last resort, place leftover food in your green bin. Green bin material is transformed into nutrient-rich compost that is used to fertilize farmers’ fields.
If you’re still unsure where a waste item belongs, download the Recycle Coach App through the Apple App Store or Google Play for sorting information. The app provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week. The City also offers an online sorting tool so you can quickly and easily check what item goes where using the search bar.
Need a new bin or garbage tag? You can now purchase new blue boxes, green bins and garbage tags in-person from select Vaughan community centres. View locations, cost and more in the City’s public service announcement. You can also still purchase City-branded blue boxes and green bins online through Service Vaughan and get them delivered right to your door.
Not sure when your collection day is? The new 2022 Waste Collection Schedule (PDF) is now available online. The schedule includes upcoming Double-Up Days, Christmas Tree collection and other important waste reminders for the new year.
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 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.
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