Fall Leaf Collection

The Village recently updated its Fall Leaf Collection Program to improve safety, help the environment and provide residents with choices for how to handle leaves.

The changes address resident concern over the potential safety hazards created by leaf piles, streamline the leaf collection pickup process and reduce confusion over parking restrictions. Oak Park’s annual fall leaf collection period runs for six weeks typically starting in November.

Residents no longer place leaves directly into the street. Instead, they are able to choose from a variety of leaf collection options that will improve safety, sustainability and efficiency.

Village officials thank residents for their cooperation with the revamped program this year. In a gesture of appreciation, the Village Board approved a one-time credit of $29.04 that will be applied to the first water bill of 2025 for residents who participate in the Village’s waste-hauling program. The $29.04 is equal to the annual total that resident paid for the annual fall leaf program in 2024.

Leaf collection options for residents

Mulch the leaves:

Mulch leaves with a mower and/or leave them on the lawn or in garden beds to promote soil health.
This option offers an opportunity to support regional biodiversity, protect and provide food for birds, save money on fertilizers and allow leaf litter to decompose naturally. It also aligns with the Village’s Climate Ready Oak Park plan.
Learn more about the benefits of leaving the leaves at www.oak-park.us/leafpledge.

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.
Click here for more information and to sign up.

Place leaves in a bag or bin:

Fallen leaves can be bagged in yard waste bags and/or rigid containers with a weight less than 50 pounds when filled.
Bags and/or containers should be placed in the parkway as close to the curb as possible.
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.
Leaves collected are sent to a compost facility.

New leaf collection process

Under the new system, the Village’s residential waste hauler, Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), will have dedicated compost trucks and leaf crews that will collect bags and empty rigid landscape containers from the parkway according to the route and schedule set by Public Works.
Fallen leaves can be bagged in yard waste bags and/or rigid containers with a weight less than 50 pounds when filled.
Bags and/or containers should be placed in the parkway as close to the curb as possible.
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 (see map above).

Leaf collection assistance

Oak Parkers are encouraged to look for opportunities to help neighbors who may need assistance with leaf collection. With one option for discarding leaves being to place them in the parkway in yard waste bags and/or rigid containers, property owners can tap into their neighborly instincts by helping those in need of support.

Request Leaf Collection Assistance

If you anticipate needing assistance with leaf collection during fall 2024, please fill form using the link below and the Public Works Department will work to connect you with a volunteer when the Village's Fall Leaf Collection Program begins.

Click here to request leaf collection assistance

Income-eligible leaf collection

The Village is offering a Fall Leaf Collection Assistance Program to assist property owners who meet low income limit requirements (click here to view requirements below) and have a documented medically diagnosed disability that prevents them from collecting fallen leaves. The Village is utilizing a third-party contractor to clear lawns of fallen leaves and remove them from the Village. Participants will receive services on two (2) dates during the Fall Leaf Collection Program according to the schedule set by the Village. One collection will occur mid-program after a significant volume of leaves have fallen, with a second collection at the conclusion of the program. For more information, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.

Click here to complete the income-eligible leaf collection assistance application

Leaf Collection Volunteer Sign-Up

The Village is seeking individuals who would be willing to volunteer to assist fellow Oak Park residents with leaf collection during fall 2024. Please fill out the form using the link below and the Public Works Department will reach out once fall leaf collection begins should your services be needed.
Click here to sign up as a volunteer

Information for 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 below to download a two-sided handout with information about the changes in both English and Spanish.