Dispose of cigarettes and e-cigarettes safely

Whether you’re planning to visit your local park and splashpad this summer, or enjoying Vaughan’s trails and greenspaces, remember to do your part by putting litter where it belongs.

The City of Vaughan’s crews work around the clock to ensure everyone can enjoy the city’s many public spaces, with crews collecting 2,104 bags of litter from City-owned land so far this year. But we need your help, too!

Everyone can help keep Vaughan clean and beautiful, and that includes properly disposing of cigarette and cigar butts. Here are some tips to follow:

• Dispose of cigarette butts properly. 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.
• Safely dispose of e-cigarettes and vapes at a York Region Waste Depot. These devices contain lithium-ion batteries, rechargeable batteries found in many household objects. They should never be disposed of in your garbage bin or a public waste receptacle. Instead, find a waste depot for safe disposal at york.ca/WasteDepots.

• If you’re not sure where an item belongs, 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.

From our outdoor spaces to yours, here is how you can do your part to ensure our community remains litter-free:

• Organize a community cleanup. Upon request, the City can provide supplies – such as garbage bags and gloves – for a cleanup in one of Vaughan’s parks, neighbourhoods, trails or open spaces. City staff will pick up the collected litter following the event. Get started by visiting the Community Cleanup program webpage.

• Show your pride of ownership by keeping your property clean. Your neighbours will thank you! Keeping your property clear of litter, waste and debris isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the law. Failure to do so may come with a notice to clean up your property and/or a monetary penalty for each offence. Failure to comply with a notice is a chargeable offence and may result in the City removing the waste and debris at your expense.

• 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.

• 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. Submitting reports while out in the community has never been easier thanks to the SmartParks program, which is available at all City-owned parks. Simply scan the QR code to report overflowing bins.

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.

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

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