Residents of single-family homes and buildings with five or fewer units can safely dispose of common hazardous household waste and unwanted electronics without a trip to a collection site. At-Your-Door service is part of the regular weekly municipal garbage and recycling collection programs billed quarterly on water bills. At-home pickup is offered for materials such as garden chemicals, automotive fluids, paint products and household cleaners as well as electronic items like televisions, computers, fax machines, printers and cell phones. Residents can schedule the service online at www.wmatyourdoor.com, via email to atyourdoor@wm.com or with a toll-free call to 1.800.449.7587. Collection kits sent by U.S. Mail include instructions on how to package the materials and where to place them safely for pickup on the scheduled date. Residents need not be home at the pickup time. While the number of times a qualifying household can use the service is not limited, residents are discouraged from requesting collection of very small quantities such as a single can of paint. Instead, consider working with neighbors to combine items for a single pickup. Residents of multifamily buildings not served under the municipal refuse hauling program are encouraged to contact their building’s refuse service provider about recycling options. For more information about the Village’s refuse and recycling services — including items eligible for At-Your-Door collection — visit www.oak-park.us/recycling.
Dumping won’t do…If you have unwanted furniture or other bulk items, do not place them near the curb in the Village parkway or in an alley — it’s considered dumping and against the law. However, bulk items weighing less than 90 pounds such as furniture and appliances will be picked up with regular garbage collection when two pink refuse stickers are attached to each item. Stickers are $2.25 each and available at grocery and hardware stores throughout the Village, including Village Hall, 123 Madison St. More information is posted at www.oak-park.us/refuse.