Nov. 12, 2015 – When severe weather creates debris from trees on private property, owners are reminded not to bring limbs or brush to the curb, but make other arrangements for its disposal.
Public Works crews only pick up debris from parkway trees – a big job with nearly 19,000 trees on public property throughout the Village.
However, brush from private property will be treated as yard waste if it is tied into bundles, each tagged with a green yard waste sticker and placed in the regular refuse pick-up area.
Each bundle should be no larger than two feet in diameter, four feet in length and not exceed 50 pounds.
Yard waste stickers are $2.40 each and are available at most Village grocery and hardware stores, as well as in the cashier’s office at Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
The Village’s contract refuse hauler also will come to a home and estimate the cost for removing larger, unbundled quantities of yard waste — call 888.656.5350 to request an estimate.
Refuse collection is funded by user fees billed quarterly with the water bill, rather than property taxes, an approach that means only those properties that require the service pay. About half of Oak Park’s 26,000 residential addresses are in multifamily buildings.
Residents also are urged not to include brush and other organic debris in leaves put out for collection during the annual seasonal program. Items other than leaves can interfere with the recycling process used by the waste hauler.
For more information on yard waste, leaf collection and refuse hauling, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.
Where to Buy Yard Waste Stickers
- Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
- Jewel Food Stores, 438 Madison St., 7036 Roosevelt Road, 7525 Lake St. (River Forest)
- Dressel’s Ace Hardware, 1137 Chicago Ave.
- Fair Share Finer Foods, 6226 Roosevelt Road
- Walgreens, 811 Madison St.
- Schauer Ace Hardware, 7449 Madison St. (Forest Park)