Compostable Program

Spring - Fall: Organics carts will be collected on regular refuse collection days from the first full week of April through the end of November.

Winter: Organics carts will be emptied bi-weekly on the regular trash and recycling collection date at a discounted rate. Winter Collection Schedule(PDF, 67KB)

The expanded program is available to single-family and five-flat households using Village refuse and recycling services. Sign up for the program using the form at the bottom of the page.

The program is offered on a voluntary, subscription basis. The subscription cost is $15.68 per month, which is about the cost of one yard waste sticker and one yard waste bag per week. Residents who maintain backyard compost piles or who mulch grass clippings may wish to investigate sharing organics carts and costs with neighbors.

Residents who join the Village composting program for the first time will get three months free if they sign up for 12 months of continuous service.

For more information, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.

Residents who participate in the program will receive a 96-gallon gray cart for the weekly collection of organics, a kitchen compost pail and a sample of compostable bags for food scraps. Both yard waste and food scraps may be placed in the organics cart. Food scraps must be contained in a compostable bag that meets ASTM 6400 standards or wrapped in newspaper to avoid attracting pests.

• Yard waste such as grass clippings, garden vegetation, leaves and brush)
• Food Scraps , including meat, bread, vegetables, table scraps, dairy, coffee ground and pasta
• Unsoiled or food-soiled paper products, such as paper towels, paper bags, pizza boxes, napkins, paper cups, newspaper and food packaging
• Compostable plastic bags that meet ASTM 6400 or ASTM 6868 standards

• Plastics that do not meet ASTM 6400 & 6868 compostable standards
• Plastic packaging, bags and serving ware such as plates, cups and utensils
• Pet waste
• Sanitary products
• Diapers
• Dairy cartons (if emptied, these can be recycled in your blue cart)

Want to share the compost experience with someone on your block? The Village offers the option to split the compost cart cost with a neighbor. The monthly cost of a compost cart will be split in half and billed to each participating neighbor. Please complete the form below and indicate the address of the participating neighbor. The compost cart will be delivered to address of resident completing the form. A kitchen pail will be provided to both participants.

Residents who live in multifamily buildings too large to participate in the Village collection program but still wish to compost may leave food scraps and food soiled paper products in the clearly labeled carts at one of four locations in the Village:

• 102 N. Lombard Ave. - Adjacent to Central Water Pump Station
• 1125 Ontario St. - Holley Court Parking Garage at the Marion Street entrance/exit near the bicycle racks
• 720 North Blvd. - Avenue Parking garage near main entrance
• 1010 N. Ridgeland Ave. - North Water Pump Station near corner of Ridgeland and Berkshire

Scraps may be stored in ASTM 6400 standard compostable bags or wrapped in newspaper. Consider freezing scraps to ease transportation to the site. No yard waste or garden vegetation, leaves or brush. Plastic bags or other non-organic material placed into the cart will cause contamination requiring the cart contents be sent to the landfill.

Any large multifamily building or condo association can also contract independently with LRS or another provider for composting service. If contracting with LRS, they will receive the Village's negotiated rate. Building owners and condo associations can contact publicworks@oak-park.us for assistance with the compost contracting process.

Any Oak Park non-profit institution is eligible to contract with LRS for composting service. They will receive the negotiated CompostAble rate. Institutions can contact publicworks@oak-park.us for assistance with the compost contracting process.