Alexei Volkov
The City of Oak Park, Michigan, offers a range of recycling services to its residents, including plastic recycling. The city's waste hauler, contracted through SOCCRA, collects plastic recyclables through a five-day trash collection schedule. Oak Park's recycling program accepts a variety of plastics, such as beverage bottles, food containers, packaging for cosmetics and household products, and disposable food containers and cups. Additionally, the Village of Oak Park provides a single-stream recycling program for residential buildings with five or fewer units, allowing all recyclables to be placed together in a blue recycling cart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling Provider | Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) |
| Plastic Accepted | Beverage bottles, juice bottles, drink containers, plastic food containers, packaging for cosmetics and household products, food packaging, milk jugs, shampoo and conditioner bottles, household cleaning product containers, plastic bags, HDPE plastic drums, IBC Totes |
| Plastic Not Accepted | Plastic bags for yard waste |
| Other Recyclables | Paper, cans, bottles, textiles, small household items |
| Collection Schedule | 5-day trash collection schedule |
| Collection Time | Before 7 am |
| Collection Process | Curbside and drop-off |
| Collection Frequency | Weekly |
| Collection Limit | No limit on the amount of recyclable material |
| Additional/Replacement Carts | Call 844.633.3577 or email [email protected] |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic food containers
Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park have a high rate of community members recycling. SOCRRA, a municipal corporation that includes Oak Park, recycles 13,000 tons of paper, plastic, metal, and glass recyclables at the curb each year.
The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM Center) is a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents. It accepts hard plastic containers and bottles (water bottles, milk jugs, detergent containers, etc.), as well as #1 and #2 plastic to-go containers. All containers should be clean, thoroughly rinsed out, and recapped.
The Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees voted to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 20 ("Public Health") of the Oak Park Village Code to add a new article on "Single-Use Plastic Ordinance and Polystyrene Food Packaging." Beginning June 1, 2023, food establishments may only provide single-use plastic foodware upon customer request or at a self-service station for delivery or takeout orders.
From January 1, 2024, food establishments in Oak Park may not sell or distribute disposable food service containers composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam packaging. This includes serviceware for takeout foods, bakery products, and leftovers from partially consumed meals. There are a few exceptions to this rule, including polystyrene foam coolers or ice chests used for processing or shipping seafood.
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Plastic bags
Oak Park has implemented several initiatives to reduce the impact of single-use plastic bags. For example, the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees voted to adopt an ordinance amending the Oak Park Village Code to include a Single-Use Plastic Ordinance and Polystyrene Food Packaging regulations. Beginning June 1, 2023, food establishments may only provide single-use plastic foodware upon customer request or at self-service stations for delivery or takeout orders. This definition includes any plastic eating utensil or item intended for one-time use by the manufacturer. Additionally, disposable food service containers composed partially or wholly of polystyrene foam packaging will be prohibited from sale or distribution by food establishments starting January 1, 2024, with smaller businesses given additional time to comply until January 1, 2025.
The community has also taken steps to address the issue. The Interfaith Green Network and the Clean Up-Give Back chapter of Oak Park and River Forest collaborated on a recycling initiative, collecting 500 pounds of single-use plastic bags in just three weeks. These bags were then used to create a bench for the Austin Peoples Action Center, made by Trex, a manufacturer of eco-friendly outdoor furniture. The project highlights the community's commitment to reducing plastic waste and finding creative ways to reuse it.
While plastic bags cannot be recycled through the blue cart program, other plastic items can be recycled through Oak Park's curbside and drop-off programs. SOCRRA, a municipal corporation that Oak Park is a part of, provides these programs and recycles an average of 13,000 tons of paper, plastic, metal, and glass each year. This helps to offset the costs of recycling and trash collection services for the community. However, it is important to note that plastic bags are not accepted as yard waste containers during the winter months when residents can bring their bags of leaves, grass, or brush bundles to the SOCRRA Recycling Drop-off Center.
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Plastic bottles
Recycling plastic bottles is an important way to help the environment. It reduces the amount of waste in the environment and contributes to a more sustainable world. In Oak Park, Illinois, plastic bottles are among the many items that can be recycled.
The first step in recycling plastic bottles is to check for the recycling symbol, usually a triangle with arrows, or a number, which indicates the type of plastic and whether it is recyclable. Rigid plastics, such as those found in packaging or containers, are likely to be accepted for recycling, whereas flexible plastics are not. Plastic bottles with handles or necks, such as water bottles, milk jugs, and laundry detergent jugs, are generally accepted for recycling.
To prepare plastic bottles for recycling in Oak Park, it is important to ensure they are clean and thoroughly rinsed out, with any food or grease residue removed. Lids and caps should be taken off and the bottle should be recapped. It is also important to avoid 'wish-cycling', or placing non-recyclable items in with recyclables, as this can lead to contamination and cause all items to end up in landfills.
In addition to household plastic bottles, Oak Park also recycles plastic bottles and containers with the 1 or 2 plastic resin codes, also known as SPI codes. These codes indicate that the plastic can be recycled but not reused, so it is recommended to switch to reusable alternatives when possible. By following these guidelines, residents of Oak Park can do their part to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
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Plastic recycling services
The Village of Oak Park provides a range of plastic recycling services to its residents. The Village's single-stream recycling program allows residents of buildings with five or fewer units to place paper, cans, and bottles that meet recycling guidelines together in a blue recycling cart, without needing to separate recyclables. There is no limit to the amount of recyclable material that can be set out for collection, and additional or replacement carts can be ordered by calling 844.633.3577 or emailing [email protected]. Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) handles the weekly collection of trash and recycling for these residential properties.
The Village also offers a free textile recycling program through Simple Recycling, where residents can schedule a free pickup for their old clothing, textiles, and other small household items.
For plastic recycling, Oak Park is served by SOCRRA (South Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority), a municipal corporation consisting of twelve member municipalities that provide both curbside and drop-off residential recycling programs. SOCRRA recycles an average of 13,000 tons of paper, plastic, metal, and glass recyclables at the curb each year, and member communities earn a "cash" rebate for every ton of recyclables collected.
During the winter months, residents can bring their bags of leaves, grass, or brush bundles to the SOCRRA Recycling Drop-off Center, and throughout the year, residents can recycle plastic waste through private companies that arrange logistics and transportation of plastic waste to recycling centers. These companies typically require large quantities of plastic for recycling and may include a minimum thickness requirement for plastic trash bags.
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Plastic waste collection
The City of Oak Park has a five-day trash collection schedule, with a waste hauler contracted through SOCCRA. The waste hauler has smaller, more manageable routes, allowing for improved service. All waste must be at the curb on the scheduled day by 7 am. Plastic bags with a minimum thickness of 2 mills are acceptable.
The Village of Oak Park offers a single-stream recycling program for residential buildings of five or fewer units, eliminating the need to separate recyclables. Paper, cans, and bottles that meet recycling guidelines can be placed together in the blue recycling cart. The amount of recyclable material set out for collection is not limited. Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) handles the weekly collection of trash and recycling for residential properties with five or fewer units.
During the winter months, residents can bring their bags of leaves, grass, or brush bundles to the SOCRRA Recycling Drop-off Center. Containers must weigh less than 50 pounds, and yard waste must fit in a designated container (less than 4 feet in length).
Oak Park also offers a textile recycling program for used clothing, textiles, and other small household items. Residents can schedule a free pickup with Simple Recycling by phone or online.
Additionally, there are private companies in Oak Park that buy and recycle plastic. These companies typically deal with large quantities of plastic and arrange logistics and transportation to recycling centers. They buy all grades of plastic in bulk, and the price depends on the grade, amount, and location of the material.
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Frequently asked questions
Oak Park recycles all grades of plastic. This includes beverage bottles, plastic food containers, plastic bags, and plastic buckets.
In Oak Park, you can recycle any amount of plastic as long as it meets the recycling guidelines. However, some private companies that arrange plastic recycling in the area require large quantities, such as enough material to fill up a truck.
In Oak Park, you can put your plastic recyclables in the blue recycling cart provided by the Village. You can also take your recyclables to the SOCRRA Recycling Drop-off Center.
Apart from plastic, Oak Park recycles paper, cans, bottles, textiles, and small household items.
Yes, Oak Park does not accept plastic bags for yard waste recycling.
