Leaf Collection

The Department of Public Works (DPW) provides curbside leaf collection beginning in October and ending by mid-December. Collection is based on the city’s leaf collection schedule map.

Leaf collection rules

• Place leaves at the curb by 7 a.m. on the date shown for your area.
• Collection dates are tentative and may change due to weather or equipment issues.
• The date listed is the first day crews will be in your section. Crews may return over the next one or two days.
• Keep vehicles off the street until leaves in your area have been collected. Crews will not return if access is blocked.
• Place leaves in a long row along the curb, not in a single large pile.
• Leaf collection days do not always match your regular trash day.
• Only leaves may be placed at the curb—no branches or yard waste, which can damage equipment.
• Small amounts left behind may be placed in paper yard waste bags for pickup on your normal trash day through mid December.
• If weather allows, DPW will sweep streets after the final collection.
• From mid December through early April, residents can drop off up to 10 bags of leaves per trip at SOCRRA, 995 Coolidge in Troy

Brush and yard waste pickup

Yard waste includes grass clippings, small twigs (¼ inch or less), shrub trimmings, weeds and garden debris.
How to set out yard waste

• Place yard waste in a 30-gallon paper yard waste bag or a refuse can with an Oak Park yard waste recycling decal.
• Decals are available at:
  • Utility Billing Division, 14000 Oak Park Blvd.
  • Department of Public Works, 10600 Capital St.

Large branches and brush

Large branch pickup runs from the first Monday in April through the second week of December.

• Branches must be less than six inches in diameter and 4 to 8 feet long.
• Stack branches neatly at the curb with cut ends facing the same direction.
• Holiday trees are collected through the second week of January.
• Holiday trees may also be dropped off at SOCRRA, 995 Coolidge in Troy,  in a yard waste container. Proof of residency is required.

Not accepted:

• Material produced by commercial contractors
• Stumps, logs or roots removed by residents or firms

Small branches
Branches under 2 inches in diameter may be cut into 4-foot lengths, bundled with twine (40-pound limit) and placed at the curb for trash collection.

Free wood chips and compost
Wood chips and SOCRRA compost may occasionally be available at 14200 Oak Park Blvd. Availability varies.

Residential Rubbish Collection

Oak Park has a five-day trash collection schedule. Set all waste at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
Weekly collection routes:

• Monday: Section 1
• Tuesday: Section 2
• Wednesday: Section 3
• Thursday: Section 4
• Friday: Section 5

For service questions, call Priority Waste customer service at (855) WASTE 65.

Holiday delays
Collection is delayed by one day for the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day (if on a weekday)
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day (if on a weekday)
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday only)
• Christmas Day (if on a weekday)

Priority Waste Customer Portal

The City of Oak Park, in partnership with SOCCRA and our neighboring municipalities, encourages residents to use the Priority Waste Customer Portal — a convenient, online tool for reporting and tracking trash, recycling and yard waste service issues.

Through the portal, residents can:

• Report missed stops, service issues, or ask questions.
• Upload photos and receive status updates on your requests.
• Get faster responses — City staff and Priority Waste teams share the same real-time information, ensuring quick follow-up and resolution.

Refuse containers

• All waste must be placed in a 95‑gallon cart or a 10- to 32‑gallon can with handles and a lid.
• Plastic bags (minimum 2 mils thick) are allowed and must be tied.
• No container may exceed 60 pounds.
• No individual bag may exceed 40 pounds.

Purchasing trash and recycling carts
Purchase carts:

• In person at Utility Billing, 14000 Oak Park Blvd., or
• Online via Point & Pay.

Service fees: Point & Pay adds a 3 percent processing fee (minimum $1.50). Pay in person to avoid fees.

Prices:

• 96-gallon trash or recycling cart: $79.50 plus tax.
• 64-gallon trash or recycling cart: $45 plus tax.

Free Wednesday delivery to your curb. Orders placed on Wednesday are delivered the following week.

Additional items:

• Recycle bin with lid: $12
• Upgrade from 64-gallon to 96-gallon: $40
• Replacement lid (city logo carts only): $15
• Replacement wheel, axle or catch bar (city logo carts only): $8

Bulk Items
Residents may place up to three large items at the curb on their regular collection day.
Accepted items include furniture, appliances and mattresses.

Rules:

• Doors must be removed from refrigerators.
• Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic or they will not be collected.

More than three items?
Residents may use the SOCRRA Troy Transfer Station. Fees may apply.
Visit https://www.socrra.org/locations-hours-and-rates for details.

Carpet and padding
Carpet and padding must be rolled, tied or taped into bundles:

• Under 4 feet long
• Under 40 pounds

Recycling Services
SOCRRA processes approximately 13,000 tons of recyclables annually. Every ton collected earns rebates that help reduce community waste collection costs.

What you can recycle in your cart:

• Paper
• Junk mail
• Cardboard
• Magazines
• Milk cartons
• Juice boxes
• Empty cans (e.g., soup cans)
• Empty aerosol cans
• Glass bottles (all colors)
• Glass jars (all colors)
• Plastic bottles
• Plastic jugs
• Plastic cartons

Haul You Own Junk Away Days:
Three times each year, the city hosts “Haul Your Own Junk Away Days" behind the Oak Park Public Library at 14200 Oak Park Blvd. These are opportunities for Oak Park residents to dispose of their bulk trash in roll off dumpsters at no cost.
You must place your items inside the dumpster.  ID may be required to verify residency.
Items accepted include: broken concrete, rubbish, appliances, brush, household building materials.
Items not permitted include: tires, oil / solvents, sharps, hazardous materials and light bulbs,

2026 Junk Away dates are:

• Wednesday, March 27 through Wednesday, April 1, 2026
• Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14, 2026
• Friday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026

Other Services
For information on electronics recycling, household hazardous waste and other disposal options, visit https://www.socrra.org.

Snow Emergencies

A snow emergency is declared when four or more inches of snow fall or when conditions require special treatment. Parking is not allowed on city streets until the emergency is lifted.

Snow emergency parking:
Residents may park in designated areas shown on the online map: http://bitly.com/SnowEmergencyMap.

Plowing priorities

1. Primary roads: I-696 service drives, Greenfield Road, Coolidge Highway, 11 Mile Road, Nine Mile Road, school zones, medical facilities
2. Secondary roads: Oak Park Boulevard, Scotia Road, Rosewood Street, Church Street, Capital Street, Lincoln Street and Northfield Boulevard.
3. Residential intersections
4. Residential streets when four or more inches accumulate or as conditions require

How snow emergencies are announced

• City website home page
• City's social media accounts (Facebook and X)
• Comcast OPTV16
• Community eBlasts
• Local TV news (ABC, NBC, FOX2, CBS)
• Radio (WWJ, WJR)

Enroll in eBlasts: 
To enroll in Community eBlasts, visit http://bit.ly/OPEmergencyNotifications or email ContactUs@OakParkMI.gov.

Street Sweeping

Street sweeping occurs from early April through September.
Sweeping may be delayed by weather or equipment issues. If delayed, sweeping occurs the following week.
Schedule (typically the day after trash day)

• Section 1 – Tuesday
• Section 2 – Wednesday
• Section 3 – Thursday
• Section 4 – Friday
• Section 5 – Monday

Grass and Weeds

Property owners and occupants must maintain grass and weeds at:

• Under 8 inches on improved property
• Under 16 inches on unimproved property

This includes the city right of way between the sidewalk and curb, or drainage areas where no curb exists.
If the property is not maintained, the City may cut the vegetation. The owner will be billed the actual cost plus 15 percent for inspection and administrative fees. Unpaid charges may be added as a special assessment.