Use Vaughan’s online resources to help with your spring cleaning

Are you spring cleaning your home? Unsure where to dispose of some items? The City of Vaughan has a range of tools, resources and collection services to help you dispose of waste properly – and reduce the amount sent to landfills!

Sort your waste right!

We have many great resources to help you figure out what goes where:

1. ‘What Goes Where?’: The City’s online ‘What Goes Where?’ sorting tool helps you learn where to dispose of an item. Simply type an item, such as ‘Styrofoam,’ in the search bar and select from the dropdown list to learn where it goes.

2. Recycle Coach app: Download the free Recycle Coach app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to learn where waste items belong, waste reduction tips and view your personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week.

3. Waste-less Virtual Visits: City staff offer one-on-one Waste-less Virtual Visit sessions – via FaceTime, WhatsApp and Zoom – to help you understand how to properly dispose of items and answer any questions about the City’s waste collection program. To book an appointment, contact Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.

Blue box and green bin collection

The City collects unlimited blue boxes and green bins weekly on your scheduled collection day! If you need to buy more bins for your materials, you can do so online or at select community centres while supplies last. 

Remember, all recyclables, such as plastic bottles, glass jars, aluminum and cardboard, belong in the blue box. All organics, such as food waste, pet waste, tissues and napkins, belong in the green bin.

Textile donation bins

Clearing out your wardrobe? Don’t just toss old or unwanted clothing in the garbage. Instead, drop them off at a textile donation bin. There are dozens of bin locations across the city!

Waste reduction tips to keep in mind

Everyone plays a part in keeping the planet clean, green and healthy. Try to incorporate these tips into your spring-cleaning plans to reduce what gets sent to landfills:

• Turn your fruit and vegetable scraps into garden fertilizer! The City sells backyard composters via Service Vaughan.

• Repair or repurpose clothing. Use online tutorials to learn how to make basic clothing repairs, such as sewing a hem or button, mending holes or replacing zippers.

• Visit online resale platforms to sell your unwanted goods. You can also organize a garage sale to sell clothes, household items and other textiles you no longer need.

• Donate gently used items to a charity of your choice.

• Safely dispose of damaged electronic waste items at a York Region Waste Depot. Never place electronic waste curbside.

• Visit recyclemyelectronics.ca to search for your nearest electronic retail recycling location. 

• Dispose of household hazardous waste, such as batteries, pool chemicals and paint, at a York Region Waste Depot. Household hazardous waste should never be placed in the garbage or down a drain.

For more information on the City’s waste services, visit vaughan.ca/waste. 

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.