Recycling Requirements: Arlington Heights vs Oak Park
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Arlington Heights, IL and Oak Park, IL?
Arlington Heights and Oak Park have similar restriction levels.
Arlington Heights, IL
Cook County
The Cook County Solid Waste and Recycling Ordinance establishes a framework to increase recycling rates. The county requires data reporting from waste facilities and promotes recycling through education and facility oversight.
View full Arlington Heights rules →Oak Park, IL
Cook County
Oak Park provides mandatory single-stream recycling for all residential properties. Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans, and plastics #1-5 and #7. No sorting is required. Blue recycling carts are provided to all households. Contamination with food waste, plastic bags, or non-recyclable items causes load rejection.
View full Oak Park rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington Heights | Oak Park |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinance | SWRO | - |
| Reporting | Required for facilities | - |
| Accepted | Paper, glass, metal, plastics | - |
| Portal | Electronic permit system | - |
| System | - | Single-stream — no sorting |
| Accepted Plastics | - | #1-5 and #7 |
| No Plastic Bags | - | Return to retail drop-offs |
| Items Must Be | - | Clean, dry, and empty |
| Public Works | - | (708) 358-5700 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington Heights FAQ
What can I recycle in Cook County?
Paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans, and certain plastics per Cook County recycling guidelines. Check with your waste hauler for specific accepted materials.
Is recycling mandatory in unincorporated Cook County?
The SWRO promotes recycling but enforcement focuses on waste facilities rather than individual households. Check with your waste hauler for recycling options.
Oak Park FAQ
What can I recycle in Oak Park?
Paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, and plastics #1-5 and #7. All items should be clean, dry, and empty. No sorting is required — everything goes in the blue cart.
Can I recycle plastic bags in Oak Park?
No. Plastic bags and film cannot go in the recycling cart — they jam sorting equipment. Return plastic bags to retail store drop-off bins instead.
What happens if I put the wrong items in recycling?
Contaminated loads may be rejected and collected as trash. Repeated contamination may result in warning notices. Keep non-recyclable items out of the blue cart to prevent load rejection.
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