Waste Reduction Week: single-use plastics

Reduce, reuse, recycle and recover! Throughout Waste Reduction Week, celebrated until Sunday, Oct. 24, the City of Vaughan is providing tips on how residents can reduce their household waste, apply many new and simple waste-less habits and learn about our shared responsibility to the planet to cut down on waste.

Today’s Waste Reduction Week topic is single-use plastics. According to the Recycling Council of Ontario, since the 1950s, 8.3-billion tons of plastic have been generated around the world, and only 23 per cent of those plastics have been recovered or recycled. Single-use items are an issue because they often end up littering parks, trails, rivers and lakes, which can be harmful to the environment and wildlife.

Here are actions to consider to adopt waste-less habits:

• Make simple changes in your everyday life to reduce your plastic footprint. Every action counts, such as switching from single-use plastic water bottles to reusable bottles.
• Carry reusable straws and cutlery when going out. Use reusable cutlery and dishes when hosting at home to cut down on disposable items that end up in the garbage.
• Bring reusable bags to the grocery store for your items instead of using plastic produce bags or purchasing grocery bags.
• If you take a lunch to work, pack reusable cutlery and keep your food in reusable containers instead of plastic bags that are generally used once.
• Have plastic toys you’re looking to get rid of? Donate gently used plastic items, such as children’s toys, food containers, storage bins or plates, cups and utensils, in the City’s Curbside Giveaway Days on Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24 or to a local charity or second-hand store.

Remember, not all plastics can be recycled in York Region, even if they have the recycle symbol on them. Unsure what items are recyclable? Check first by downloading the Recycle Coach App through the Apple App Store or Google Play for information on sorting your items. 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. Citizens can register online at any time to purchase garbage tags, blue boxes and green bins and exchange damaged or broken City-branded bins through Service Vaughan.

Zero waste starts now. The City of Vaughan challenges you to share your waste reduction efforts with a selfie or another picture or video using the hashtag #VaughanWastesLess on social media. For more information on waste services in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/waste.

The City of Vaughan has proclaimed Monday, Oct. 18 to Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 as Waste Reduction Week to further its commitment to protecting the environment and fostering a more sustainable future – a priority outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. The week’s primary purpose is to celebrate the City’s environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging new innovative ideas and solutions for citizens to reduce their own waste and conserve the environment.

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 leadership. 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 building a circular economy and a “world in which nothing goes to waste.”

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