City Offers Free Wood Chip Collection for Garden Owners Oct 6-24
The city of Chicago has announced a free wood chip collection service for garden owners from October 6 to October 24. Residents can dispose of up to five cubic meters of woody material during this period, promoting sustainable waste management.
Collection dates can be found in the waste calendar, environmental guide, or the Chicago's waste app. To ensure efficient collection, residents must follow specific guidelines. Small hedge trimmings or garden waste under one cubic meter should be disposed of via green waste containers.
Property owners or residents are responsible for registering and reporting wood chip collection points in their garden before the collection period. This is especially important if the collection points are marked with 'X' in the Environmental Protection Guide 2025 or located in dead ends, private or access roads, invisible spots, side paths, or directly in the garden. Collection points in certain streets, dead-end roads, or non-visible places must also be reported in advance to the waste management department.
Residents are encouraged to leave a pile of twigs and leaves as a winter home for hedgehogs in their garden. To facilitate collection, wood chips should be stacked in one direction, in a pile, and made visible from the street. The city urges residents to dispose of material on their own property, not on public or third-party properties, or protected areas.
