Love your park? Leave no mark!
Keep our greenspaces clean as you explore Vaughan
Vaughan has many public spaces, parks and trails to enjoy, but as you explore the city, make sure to leave our spaces how you found them. We all play a role in keeping our neighbourhoods safe, clean and beautiful.
The City of Vaughan’s crews work around the clock to maintain our public spaces, with crews collecting 4,849 bags of litter from City-owned land so far this year. But we need your help, too!
From our outdoor spaces to yours, here is how you can do your part to ensure our community remains litter-free:
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.
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.
Adopt your local park. Community groups, businesses and residents can make a positive impact by helping keep neighbourhood parks clean, safe and beautiful. Through the Adopt-a-Park program, you commit to at least two litter cleanups per year. The City provides support, resources and recognition – you provide the helping hands that keep our parks welcoming and well maintained!
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.
Reuse and refill. Bring a reusable cup while on the go and take cloth tote bags with you when shopping instead of disposable alternatives.
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. Failure to pick up after your pet may result in a $200 fine. To report pet waste on public property, call 905-832-2281 or email service@vaughan.ca.
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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