Choose how to manage leaves during revamped Fall Leaf Collection Program

The Village is updating its Fall Leaf Collection Program this year, with the changes intended to improve safety, help the environment and amplify choices available to Oak Parkers for managing leaves. Residents will no longer place leaves directly into the street. Instead, they can choose from a variety of leaf collection options:

• Mulch the leaves…Oak Park residents are encouraged to consider mulching leaves with a mower and/or leaving them on the lawn or in garden beds to promote soil health. This option offers an opportunity to support regional biodiversity and save money on fertilizer by allowing leaf litter to decompose naturally. It also aligns with the Village’s Climate Ready Oak Park plan.
• Compost leaves…Residents who participate in the Village’s CompostAble program can discard leaves in their 96-gallon gray organics cart along with food scraps and other yard waste throughout the year. Find more information about the program and sign up to participate at www.oak-park.us/compost.
• Place leaves in a bag or bin...Fallen leaves can be placed in yard waste bags and/or rigid containers and left in the parkway as close to the curb as possible for pickup. Six pickups are planned for each section of the Village on the scheduled pickup dates indicated on the map. Green yard waste stickers are NOT required during the six-week Fall Leaf Collection Program and residents may put out an unlimited number of bags and/or rigid containers in the parkway on their designated collection day. The Village’s waste hauler Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will transport the leaves to a compost facility. 

As has always been the case, commercial properties and large multifamily buildings with six or more units do not participate in the Village’s refuse program and have always been responsible for their own leaf collection and disposal. This remains in effect.

The Village conducted case studies of 150 Illinois municipalities to identify best practices for leaf collection. Village officials say the updates, which mark the first major changes to the program since 1994, will streamline the leaf collection process and address potential safety hazards created by large leaf piles. The changes are also intended to minimize confusion over parking restrictions and provide environmental benefits from mulching and reduced greenhouse gas emissions due to decreased truck traffic.

For more information about the Village’s Leaf Collection Program, visit www.oak-park.us/leafcollection, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.  

Be sure to inform landscapers…Residents who utilize landscape services are asked to make sure their landscaper understands that starting this fall leaves should no longer be placed in the street. Click here for a handout with information about the changes in both English and Spanish. 

Yard waste bag coupon…Visit www.oak-park.us/leafcollection for a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase at Oak Park’s two Ace Hardware locations.