Waste Reduction Week is here!

There is no better time than during Waste Reduction Week to start reducing, reusing and recycling! The City of Vaughan proclaims Waste Reduction Week annually to encourage you to adopt waste-less habits and educate everyone on our collective responsibility to the planet to cut down on what’s sent to landfills. 

The week runs from Monday, Oct. 16 to Sunday, Oct. 22 with a waste-related theme each day to promote different ways we can all help advance a circular economy:

• Monday, Oct. 16: circular economy
• Tuesday, Oct. 17: textiles
• Wednesday, Oct. 18: e-waste
• Thursday, Oct. 19: single-use plastics
• Friday, Oct. 20: food waste
• Saturday, Oct. 21: sharing economy 
• Sunday, Oct. 22: swap and repair 

Make sure you’re following us on social media because, throughout the week, we will share simple waste reduction tips on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram– actions you can easily take at home!

Circular economy

Today’s waste reduction theme, and the overarching focus of this year’s Waste Reduction Week, is the circular economy. A circular economy is when resources and items are used and reused continuously, not just used once and discarded. Here are some circular waste reduction actions to consider incorporating into your routine: 

• See if an item can be recycled for a new purpose before throwing it away. Choose fewer, higher-quality clothing and household items that will serve a purpose longer. Repurpose textiles as rags to replace paper towels for cleaning around the house. 
• Donate gently used clothing and textiles. Do you have out-of-style or unwanted clothing? Drop them off at a textile donation bin in Vaughan, a second-hand store or a York Region waste depot.
• Borrow books and other items. Instead of buying new, borrow items to reduce waste, clear up space in your home and save money. In partnership with York Region, Vaughan Public Libraries has a Lendery at Pierre Berton Resource Library. A Lendery is a library of items you can borrow, like tools, kitchen equipment, sports gear and more. Visit the Lendery at Pierre Berton Resource Library or check out the online catalogue to see the list of available items.
• Recycle what you can. You may be surprised to know all properly recycled items in Vaughan are sold as commodities and transformed into new products! Cardboard, paper, aluminum and steel are highly valued and easily repurposed, so be sure to make use of your blue box.
• Participate in the City’s last Curbside Giveaway Days of the year. Taking place from Saturday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 29, you can join by placing gently used household items at the curb for your neighbours to take.

The City is a leader in waste management. York Region’s SM4RT Living Plan sets long-term waste reduction targets for garbage and organics. By 2031, the City’s goal is to reduce garbage waste by 30 per cent, which would mean each household in Vaughan reduces and recycles an additional bag of garbage per collection. 

Waste Reduction Week is an example of the City’s commitment to protecting the environment and fostering a sustainable future – a priority outlined in the Council-approved 2022-2026 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. 

Learn more about the City’s waste reduction commitments.

Need help sorting waste?

If you can’t remember what items belong in what bins, check the online ‘What Goes Where’ sorting tool, or use the Recycle Coach app, downloadable from the Apple App Store or Google Play. The app also provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week. 

Buy blue boxes and green bins

If you need a new blue box or green bin, you can purchase them online through Service Vaughan and have them delivered right to your door. Alternatively, buy these items in person at select community centres, while supplies last. You can also sign up through Service Vaughan to exchange a broken City-issued blue box or green bin for a new one. 

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

Be a Green Guardian

Green Guardians is the City’s environmental stewardship program – and we’re encouraging residents and businesses to get involved. As a Green Guardian of Vaughan, you can join City-led events or host your own community-driven events and activities that promote environmental stewardship and help keep Vaughan safe, clean and beautiful. Learn more about becoming a Green Guardian at vaughan.ca/GreenGuardians. 

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