Dispose of cigarette butts properly – it’s the law!

You wouldn’t toss litter on your lawn at home and walk away – so you shouldn’t when you’re out in the community either! Everyone can help keep Vaughan clean and beautiful, and that includes properly disposing of cigarette and cigar butts. 

Not only is proper disposal the neighbourly thing to do – it’s the law! Discarding cigarette and cigar butts on the ground could leave you with a fine of at least $500 under the City of Vaughan’s Dumping By-law (PDF). You could also be fined $100 to $5,000 on the first offence for smoking in a park, unless in a designated area, according to the City’s Smoking By-law (PDF). 

Do your part by putting your cigarette and cigar butts in the garbage after they have been properly extinguished and keep them off the ground. 

The City conducted its first-ever Litter Audit (PDF) in 2023, when more than 95 sites across all five wards were analyzed to determine litter trends. The most common small litter item was cigarette butts, making up 35.3 per cent of small litter in Vaughan. Moreover, in 2024, approximately 1,200 tonnes of litter and illegal dumping were removed from City-owned land. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – littering and illegal dumping are against the law and may be subject to a fine of at least $500.

Unsure where to dispose of an item? When in doubt, use the City’s ‘What Goes Where?’ tool! You can also download the Recycle Coach app to your smart device through the Apple App Store or Google Play to help determine what goes where. The app provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put at the curb each week.

Here are more ways you can help keep our city safe, clean and beautiful:

• Report littering and illegal dumping. Littering and illegal dumping are prohibited under the City’s Dumping By-law (PDF). If you witness either of these actions, report it to Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca. It’s also a violation of the by-law to not keep your property clear of litter, waste and debris; failure to do so may come with a notice to clean up your property and/or receive a $500 fine for each offence. Failure to comply with a notice is also a chargeable offence and may result in the City removing the waste and debris at your expense.

• Reuse and refill. Bring a reusable cup while on the go and take cloth tote bags with you when shopping instead of disposable alternatives that cause excess waste.

• Bag and bin pet waste. When walking outside with your pets, clean up after them and use the public waste bins provided. If the bins are full, take pet waste home. It belongs in the green bin at home or waste bins out in the community. You must pick up after your pet. The fine for failing to do so is $200. To report pet waste on public property, call 905-832-2281 or email service@vaughan.ca.

• Report full or overfilled public bins. If you notice full or overflowing bins around the community, report it to Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca. Doing so will generate a service request for staff to action in priority sequence. If you are in one of the SmartPark locations across the city, simply scan the QR code to report overflowing bins to the City. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/SmartParks.  

Fines aside, littering negatively impacts the health, safety and well-being of the community and the environment. It’s also dangerous for pets and wildlife as they may eat or be injured by discarded items. By helping to reduce litter, you demonstrate respect for your neighbours and shared community spaces.

Don’t forget to recycle!

Help reduce litter in your neighbourhood by putting your recyclables in the blue box and following proper waste set-out guidelines. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind ahead of your next collection day:

• Do not overfill your blue box. Leave space (at least 7.5 centimetres or three inches) at the top of the box. 

• Purchase additional blue boxes or use a larger blue box (up to 121 litres, with no attached lid or wheels) if you have too many materials. 

• Place heavier items, such as glass bottles and jars, on top of lighter ones, such as paper and plastic containers, so they don’t blow away on windy days.

• Flatten, cut down and bundle cardboard securely, and pack them in the blue box carefully. 

• Consider putting your recycling out the morning of your collection day if there’s rainy, windy or snowy weather in the overnight forecast. Or wait until the following week to set out these items. We collect unlimited blue box items weekly!

To learn more about the City’s commitment to protecting the environment and fostering a sustainable community today and for future generations, visit vaughan.ca/litter.

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