This summer, let’s all put waste in its place

Summer officially begins today and we are asking everyone to do their part in keeping Vancouver clean and to put waste in its place while out enjoying our parks, beaches and public spaces. 

As these popular spaces fill up so do our public waste bins. The collection of garbage from public waste bins typically doubles during the summer compared to the rest of the year. 

In response to the higher seasonal use, City crews increase waste collection and street cleaning across the city, with a focus on high-traffic areas: 

• Setting out additional waste bins in parks and public plazas and increasing the frequency of collection
• Increasing street cleaning services in high-priority areas, with increased flushing, sweeping, and abandoned garbage collection
• Increasing micro-cleaning services in public plazas, through our Street Cleaning Grant Program

Don’t let your waste become litter. Overall, our litter audits show that:

• Single-use items such as disposable cups and food packaging account for 20% of large litter items 
• Cigarette butts remain the #1 small littered item in the city (1 million a day), accounting for 30% of small littered items
• Disposable masks have become an increasing litter problem, and now account for 6% of large litter items 

Tips to help keep Vancouver clean and litter-free

• Don’t let waste become litter: put waste in its place. Walk, bike or roll with waste to the nearest garbage, recycling or organics bin. 
• Avoid single-use use items and bring reusable water bottles, travel mugs, cutlery and containers.
• Use the “Pack-In, Pack-Out” method, especially for large gatherings. Group gatherings often result in excess waste and can quickly overfill waste bins. Bring waste home with you to properly sort and dispose of. 
• Use a pocket ashtray for your cigarette butts until you are close to a waste bin.
• Use our Zero Waste Stations to sort your waste when you see one.
• Show love for your neighbourhood by joining our Adopt-A-Block program or hosting a Neighbourhood Cleanup Party to help keep your community clean and vibrant. 
• Notice an overflowing waste bin? Report it via VanConnect and help us know where adjustments are needed. Our crews work around the clock to service over 3,000 public waste bins, multiple times a day. Reporting an overflowing bin helps us know which locations need additional servicing.  

Learn more about our street cleaning and waste collection services and the Put Waste in its Place campaign

Quotes

Albert Shamess, Director, Solid Waste Management and Green Operations

“Keeping Vancouver clean and litter-free is a shared responsibility and we are grateful to everyone who does their part to keep public spaces and our parks, beaches, and plazas litter-free,” says Albert Shamess, Director, Solid Waste Management and Green Operations. “We all want to enjoy the great outdoors without having to deal with litter so remember to put waste in its place not just in the summer but all year round.”