The Village is proud of its long history of protecting and preserving our natural resources. The Village has one of the most comprehensive tree preservation ordinances and one of the most stringent storm water management ordinances in northeastern Illinois. As a result, the Village is a steward of over 350 acres of open space, including natural wetlands, tree conservancies and trailways along Poplar Creek.

The Public Works Department serves as our management force to ensure all of these areas are properly maintained and preserved. And, we encourage our residents to be good environmental stewards as well. If you see debris in our wetlands, or garbage being dumped on village property - please report it immediately!

Branch Pickup

The Village offers a branch pickup service as a convenience to our residents. It is also part of our preservation strategy. Collecting the branches reduces yardwaste in landfills. And, the Village uses the chips collected as mulch. This saves money and the environment! Read more in our Branch Pickup page.

50/50 Parkway Tree Program

Streamwood's 50/50 Parkway Tree Program gives residents the opportunity to purchase a tree for their parkway at 50% of the cost - you pay 50% of the cost of the tree and the Village pays the other 50%.

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive and destructive beetle that destroys ash trees. In July 2010, the EAB was confirmed on the north side of Streamwood by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Since that time, other EAB traps have yielded EAB in various parts of the Village. The Department has removed street and median trees infested with the pest, and replanted new trees in their place.

The Village worked diligently to prepare and manage the damage these pests had on street trees, public lands, as well as on private property. Toward that end, the Public Works Department adopted an Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan to educate the community about the hazards these insects create, minimize and control the spread of EAB, and monitor the impact this infestation has on our community. The Village has removed all infested trees and replanted new and more diverse species to avoid this type of destruction in the future. 

If you have any questions on the Village's Emerald Ash Borer program, please call the Public Works Department at (630) 736-3850.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

The Village offers curbside recycling in cooperation with Groot. For more information on our general recycling program, click here. Our refuse company doesn't take hazardous materials. Many of our local stores do take certain items, such as plastic bags, small electronics, ink cartridges, batteries, and paint. To help residents recycle these and other items, view a list of recycling locations in and around the community, prepared by our Community Relations Commission.

Did you know 1 out of 3 plants in Illinois woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands are non-native? Plant invasions can cause economic damage, displace native species, alter ecosystem functions, and interfere with ecological restoration goals. Aggressive invasive species form a monoculture, competing with native plans for resources. Some native plants have allelopathic tendencies and put toxins into the soil that inhibit the growth of other species. In ecosystems dominated by invasive species, wildlife struggle to find food and shelter.

Common buckthorn is an invasive plant in Illinois and should not be planted according to The Morton Arboretum. It forms dense thickets and reproduces very freely, crowding out other plants and disrupting ecosystems in forest preserves and other natural areas. In woodlands, it can completely replace existing understory plants, including native wildflowers. Buckthorn berries and seeds are spread by birds. The seeds geminate at a very high rate and remain viable in the soil for 2-3 years.  

Buckthorn is very common in gardens and yards in the Midwest but should be removed where it is found. Buckthorn is a large shrub or tall tree with glossy oval leaves that can easily be recognized in fall when it remains green after most other leaves have fallen. Under the Illinois Exotic Weed Act, buckthorn cannot be sold in our state.

Other plants regulated by the Illinois Exotic Weed Act: Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, saw-toothed buckthorn, dahurian buckthorn, Japanese buckthorn, Chinese buckthorn, kudzu, exotic bush honeysuckles, exotic olives, salt cedar, poison hemlock, giant hogweed, Oriental bittersweet, teasel, and knotweed.

Restore Natural Areas and Plant Native Species

After removing invasive species, existing plants may need help recovering. In some cases, replanting with native plants may be necessary for restoration. When planting native species, try to use local ecotypes of seeds or plants from within 100 miles of your location as they are adapted to local climates and easier to grow. They also provide food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.

The Public Works landscape department spends a lot of time removing invasive species, while planting/seeding to help restore native plant communities and prevent future invasions. Help us remove invasive species from our neighborhoods. To learn more about the different types of native plants for your yard, click here.

Tree Care and Maintenance

Bushes and trees may sometimes block the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians – especially schoolchildren – to walk on the parkway or in the street. If parkway tree branches are hanging over the sidewalk and interfering with pedestrians, or trees have been knocked down by cars or storms, please report the location to the Public Works Department at (630) 736-3850. Homeowners should also trim any private landscaping that blocks the sidewalk. Please note that a permit is often required to remove a tree - even from private property. There is no charge for the permit, but we ask that you complete the Tree Removal Permit Application so we can check the tree prior to its removal.

Tree Conservancies

Throughout the Village there are a number of large standing groves of trees, which are managed by the Public Works Department. These protected tree preservation areas were created when subdivisions were built in an effort to preserve old growth trees. No one may cut down the trees, remove the undergrowth or otherwise disturb these areas without the express permission of the Public Works Director. There are also a number of smaller areas within the community, sometimes on private property, which have similar tree protection status. If you have questions on tree conservancies, please call Public Works at (630) 736-3850.

Wetlands Protection and Conservation

Wetlands are key elements of the Village's storm water management system. Storm water run-off, from driveways, parking lots and rooftops, can be collected in wetlands before they are discharged into the waterways. Wetlands allow for the natural cleansing of this water, improving the water quality before it reaches our water supply. The Village also utilizes a system for treating storm water runoff. It is an underground filter system tied to the wetland detention areas, which further removes oil, grease, nutrients, grit and floating objects. Learn more on our Water Quality and Conservation page.

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