Yard waste includes grass clippings, leaves, small twigs (1/4 inch in diameter or less), shrub trimmings, weeds, and general yard and garden waste materials. Separate yard waste from regular refuse and set out for pick up in either a 30-gallon brown paper kraft bag or a refuse can with an Oak Park Yard Waste Recycling decal attached. Decals are available at the Water Department or the Department of Public Works.

Large Branches and Brush

Large branches and brush will be collected starting the first full week of April through mid-December.  Holiday trees will be collected through the mid- January. Branches less than 6 inches in diameter and between 4 feet and 8 feet in length may be stacked and set out at the curb for pickup by the chipper truck. Branches should be stacked with the cut ends facing the same direction. The following materials, however, are NOT ALLOWED for curbside brush pickup: material produced by commercial landscapers and tree trimmers and materials produced from tree removal projects (including stumps, logs, and roots removed by the resident or a private firm.)

Small Branches and Brush
Branches and woody materials that are less than 1 ½ inches in diameter can also be cut into 4 to 4 ½ foot lengths, bundled with twine and placed at the curb to be collected as trash. (40 lb. weight limit per bundle).

Residential Rubbish Collection
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 62, Solid Waste

To download information on residential rubbish collection, visit Residential Rubbish Collection - Code of Ordinances, Chapter 62, Solid Waste.

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Free Wood Chips and SOCRRA Compost

Wood chips and compost are available for pick up at the Oak Park Ice Arena parking lot, located at 14200 Oak Park Boulevard, Oak Park, Mich.

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Leaf Collection

Guidelines for Leaf Collection

                                                                                      

Leaf collection schedules are published late summer. The schedule provides a map and calendar to designate when the Department of Public Works will collect leaves in various areas of the City.

Leaves need to be raked to the gutter line of the road.

Leaf pick up "generally" occurs once a week on every street in October and every two weeks in November and December.

Residents can only place leaves, not grass clippings or sticks in the piles.

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Mulching

Since before 1995 when the Federal Solid Waste Management Act eliminated the disposal of yard waste in landfills and the Clean Air Act simultaneously became more stringent regarding burning of tree leaves, homeowners have become accustomed to raking leaves to the curb for collection. However, ongoing research at Michigan State University, Purdue University and others has demonstrated numerous benefits to mulching leaves on-site including, improved soil organic matter, nutrient levels and reduced presence of broadleaf weeds.

Mulching Tree Leaves: An Alternative to Disposal

With municipal budgets being squeezed further each year, the expense of leaf collection/composting programs is being scrutinized as well. One study reported the following average municipal leaf collection costs:

- leaf collection program cost per 1,000 population, $2,353.41
- leaf collection labor cost per curb-mile collected, $ 135.59
- leaf collection equipment cost per curb-mile collected, $ 223.25