Oak Park, Illinois Village Departments

Recyclables are picked up on the same day as the trash and yardwaste. The Village recently replaced the familiar blue recycling bins with 64-gallon recycling containers to encourage more recycling. Larger carts with wheels and lids mean residents are better able to take full advantage of the latest single-stream collection approach that eliminates the need to separate recyclables. Single-stream programs allow all recyclable materials, whether paper, glass, plastic, aluminum or most metal containers, to be tossed into the same collection vessel, with separation occurring at the recycling sorting center.

Introduction of the larger recycling bins coincided with modest, but steady, increases in the amount of recyclables collected in Oak Park over the past five years. The range of containers that can be recycled has grown, too, and now includes containers such as those from household cleaners, beauty products and grocery items. The growing amount and expanding range of recyclables, coupled with greater consumer awareness, has led to an increasing number of requests from residents for more than one blue bin as well, a step that should no longer be necessary.

In addition to providing more space for recyclables, the carts have wheels, which make it easier for residents to get their recyclables to the collection point, and lids that should help reduce litter by keeping out animals and eliminating wind-blown paper. In addition, the carts allow haulers to use automatic lifts for quicker and more efficient collections.

For more information on the Village's recycling and refuse recycling programs call 358.5700 or e-mail the Public Works Department.

Items for Single-Stream Recycling
- Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
-Steel, aluminum and bi-metal cans
-Plastics – check for these numbers on or near the bottom of the container:
#1 PETE (plastic soft drink bottles)
#2 HDPE (milk or water jugs, detergent bottles#3 PVC narrow neck containers like household cleaners, health and beauty products
#4 LDPE (margarine tubs and plastic rings from beverage cans)
#5 PP (yogurt cups, narrow neck syrup and ketchup bottles
#7 OTHER (plastic resin grocery narrow neck containers)

-Aluminum foil and formed containers
-Empty paint cans
-Empty aerosol cans
-Newspapers and inserts
-Magazines
-Telephone books
-Paperback books
-Chipboard (cereal and cracker boxes)
-Wet-strength cardboard (beverage cartons)
-Junk mail
-Office paper
-Gift wrapping paper
-Brown paper grocery bags
-Corrugated cardboard (place small pieces in the cart; cut and flatten larger pieces into three-foot-square pieces and place next to cart)
-Prepare jars & containers for collection by rinsing and discarding all lids.

Contact Number:
708.358.5700

E-mail:
PublicWorks@oak-park.us

Address:
South Boulevard @ Lombard Avenue

Related Commission:
Environmental Energy Advisory Commission

2010 Refuse & Recycling Guide