Waste Reduction Week: textiles

Reduce, reuse, recycle and recover! Throughout Waste Reduction Week, celebrated until Sunday, Oct. 24, the City of Vaughan will provide 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 textiles – in other words, clothing. The City is raising awareness on the environmental consequences of clothing consumption and equipping you with tips on extending the life of your clothes.

Did you know, according to the Recycling Council of Ontario, the average person throws away 37 kilograms (approximately 81 pounds) of textiles each year? In York Region, textiles make up to five per cent of waste for disposal.

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

• Choose quality. Buy items that will last longer. Choose natural, non-synthetic fabrics that are free from toxins and chemicals. More environmentally-friendly substitutions include organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp. 
• Repair or repurpose. Use online tutorials to learn how to make basic clothing repairs such as sewing a hem or button, mending holes or replacing zippers. Check out online resources for creative ideas on how to turn an old shirt into something new, or come up with your own ideas to re-fashion your clothing.
• Swap and share. Create a clothing exchange with your friends.
• Sell. Visit online reuse platforms to sell your unwanted clothing. You can also organize a garage sale to sell clothes and other textiles you no longer need. 
• Donate. Donating your clothing is a great way to give back to the community while also clearing space in your closet. Drop off used clothing and textile items at a York Region Community Environmental Centre or local second-hand store. Some charities might accept other items besides clothes and textiles, such as toys and household items. You can also participate in the City’s Curbside Giveaway Days on Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24.

Remember, clothing and textiles should never be placed in the garbage or blue box. Not sure what waste bin an item belongs in? 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, 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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