Winter Waste 101
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Get familiar with recycling bins, safe waste handling and collection
It’s 2021 and the City of Vaughan wants to help residents start the year off on the right foot – that includes understanding all there is to know about litter and waste. This is part of a year-long series highlighting the City’s waste services and programs to help reduce litter in the community and everything in between.
The month’s theme focuses on need-to-know waste services and information to keep in mind as citizens kick off 2021.
Christmas tree collection
It’s time to say goodbye and properly dispose of Christmas trees. Until Friday, Jan. 15, residents can place Christmas trees out on their regular waste collection day. When placing trees curbside, remove all tinsel, ornaments and plastic bags. Trees larger than 2.13 metres (seven feet) need to be cut in half to be collected. Ensure the tree is placed off the road and snowbanks so collection staff can access it safely.
Waste placement in the winter
To help ensure waste can be collected during winter months, all materials, including Christmas trees, should be kept off the road and snowbanks. Waste should be set out on the right side of the driveway when facing the house, approximately one metre (three feet) from the curbside to avoid snowplows. For more information or to watch the City’s winter waste video, visit the City’s website.
Safe waste handling
Citizens should continue to practice good infection prevention and control when handling any waste by washing their hands and any surfaces it has contacted.
The following steps should be taken when handling waste:
- Carefully bag all garbage and green bin materials.
- If anyone in a household is ill, place any item that has contacted the mouth, nose or eyes into the garbage. This includes items that would normally be placed into the green bin (tissues, napkins) or blue box (water/beverage bottles and pop cans).
- Do not flush any disinfectant wipes or baby wipes down the toilet as they can damage household plumbing and cause sewer blockages and backups.
It’s important to remember masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) should be placed in the garbage. Tissues and paper towels go in the green bin.
The City’s waste collection contractor, Miller Waste Systems Inc., continues to use the recommended PPE to protect workers from hazards they may encounter while handling residential waste bags and bins. The City also urges citizens to do their part and help protect collection staff by safely handling their waste and bins and refraining from approaching the waste collectors as they perform their work.
To make waste collection information even more convenient in the new year, use the City’s 2021 Waste Collection Schedule, which was mailed to all residents in December, or download the PDF online. The new and improved schedule provides a more concise format and offers a year at a glance, allowing readers to quickly reference important weekly information such as pickup schedules.
For personalized waste collection reminders, download the Recycle Coach app from the App Store or on Google Play. Continue to check vaughan.ca/waste and vaughan.ca/COVID19 for updates and changes to service levels and schedules.
Blue box and green bin exchange program
In response to COVID-19, the Joint Operations Centre is closed to the public until further notice. As a result, the City is offering a temporary bin exchange program by home delivery, which allows residents to replace broken City-issued blue boxes and green bins that have the City logo. To request an exchange and arrange a delivery, visit vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. To learn more about the City’s waste collection program, visit vaughan.ca/waste.
To receive the City’s latest updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
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