Environmental Resources

The Village of Tinley Park does not provide residential composting services; however, residents may create their own compost bins or seek services through an outside composting provider. See the Village composting ordinance here.

To find a composting provider or more information about composting and reducing food waste, visit the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition.

• Implementing on-site recycling and/or composting
• Eliminating styrofoam packaging
  Using eco-friendly packaging, including compostable packaging
• Reducing or eliminating the use of single-use plastics, particularly plastic straws and utensils
• Using eco-friendly cleaning supplies
• Installing LED lights and energy-efficient appliances
• Using occupancy sensors for bathroom
• Incorporating sustainability in company-wide strategic planning
• Encouraging employees to carpool, bike, or use public transportation
• Installing a refillable water bottle station
• Installing or updating landscaping to incorporate native plants and reduce stormwater runoff

For more ideas and tips, check out office sustainability tips from Chicago Environmentalists.

Residents receiving waste pickup from Homewood Disposal can schedule electronics recycling pickup through the Homewood Disposal website.

The Orland Township Highway Department has an electronics recycling drop-off facility. Learn more about here.

 

The EEC's annual Recycling Extravaganza, typically held in late August, also includes electronics recycling. Check the Environmental Enhancement Commission page for more information starting in early summer.

The Tinley Park Environmental Enhancement Commission (EEC), in partnership with the Sag Moraine Native Plant Community, is providing the below information about the ecological benefits of native plants and how to incorporate them into your landscape. Whether you have 10 acres or a 10-foot patio with pots, you can help better the local ecosystem! Dreaming of spring planting? Think native plants!

Did you know?

• Native plants are a vital part of our local ecosystem since they more abundantly attract pollinators like birds, bees and butterflies.
• Native plants are versatile and require less maintenance and water than non-native plants.
• Monarch butterfly populations have decreased by more than 95% in recent decades.
• Since the 1970s, North America has lost nearly 30% of its wild bird population. Nearly three billion birds have vanished

The last two facts are distressing, but with native plants, you can turn this around! The main cause of decreasing pollinators (insects and birds) is habitat loss and lack of native plant species. More native plants plus more pollinators equals a better ecosystem!

How to prepare for spring planting now

Are you planning to start a native garden this year? One of the best ways to create room for your garden and double its ecosystem benefits is through a method called "sheet mulching." It’s quick and easy, and if you do it soon, your garden space will be ready by May! Follow these simple steps:

• Mow your lawn as short as possible and throw the clippings back.
• Water thoroughly.
• Layer cardboard over the area. Be sure to overlap, as you want to prevent all sunlight from getting through to prevent photosynthesis. Be sure to remove all tape and staples that may be connected to the cardboard.
• Wet the cardboard until it's soggy.
• Layer four to six inches of dirt, compost or mulch over the cardboard.

Let it sit for six to eight weeks. By that time, the grass will have died back, and earthworms and other composting insects will have broken down much of the organic matter, leaving a nutrient-rich planting bed that will be ready for your native plants. Happy planting!

Learn more about native plants and why they’re important at the below links.

• Sag Moraine Native Plant Community
• Illinois Native Plant Society
• Homegrown National Park

How do I incorporate native plants into my landscaping?
Learn more about this topic at the below links.

• “Bringing Nature to Your Yard,” a natural landscaping guide from The Conservation Foundation
• Sample garden designs from Sag Moraine Native Plant Community
• The National Wildlife Federation's Native Plant Finder helps locate native plants based on your zip code.
• The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant has developed several useful garden guides using native plants, including:
  • Full-Sun Pollinator Garden
  • Woodland Garden (shaded)
  • Woodland Border Garden (partly shaded)
  • Full-Sun Rain Garden

Come see the native garden right outside Village Hall, 16250 S. Oak Park Ave. The garden is set in a 12-foot circular brick retaining wall with four outer half-moon beds, with a variety of native plants that include Black-Eyed Susans, Purple Coneflower, Foxglove Beardtongue and more. The garden was created thanks to a partnership between the Tinley Park Environmental Enhancement Commission and the Sag Moraine Native Plant Community.

See below for some frequently-asked questions related to recycling.

Visit the Homewood Disposal Service website for recycling resources including an interactive recycling guide.

Where do I take difficult-to-recycle items?
Check with the Tinley Park Environmental Enhancement Commission each summer for a recycling event, generally held at the end of August in the 80th Avenue Metra Station parking lot.

Cook County has partnered with South Suburban College to create the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents.

Water is a precious resource, and you can help ensure Tinley Park has plenty for years to come.

Rain Barrels

A rain barrel captures water from a roof so residents can use it later on for their lawns, gardens or indoor plants. It's a great way to conserve water - and it's all free! Rain barrels also help reduce water runoff, erosion, flooding and sewer backups, and can help save money on water bills. They also can help keep creeks and rivers healthy and raise stormwater awareness.

Rain barrels for Cook County residents are available through the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD).

Rain Barrels for non-Cook County residents are available through the Conservation Foundation Will County residents can check WillCountyGreen.com each spring for rain barrel sales.

There are several other ways you can help conserve water, including:

• In an effort to conserve water for fire protection, health and environmental reasons, the Village enacts water conservation measures annually from May 15 through September 15. Visit the Village's Water Conservation page for more information.
• The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's Green Neighbor Guide provides step-by-step instructions to improve stormwater management on your property.
• Install a rain garden! Rain gardens divert water from downspouts, driveways or other sources to filter pollutants and reduce the amount of runoff that reaches the water system. Check out this Rain Garden Guide from the Conservation Foundation and rain garden resources from University of Illinois Extension.
• Tinley Park residents can monitor their water usage in near-real time thanks to the Sensus Center, a web-based, interactive application.