Trees provide a beautiful green canopy for our communities and are a powerful and effective form of green infrastructure. A medium-sized oak tree can help prevent flooding and improve water quality by absorbing 2,800 gallons of rainfall per year. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s (MWRD) “Restore the Canopy” program provides four types of native trees (black oak, pin oak, red oak, and white oak) free of charge to Cook County residents, community groups, and schools. Please note that the availability of each sapling may vary depending on supply.
Tree Pick Up Days
Pick up your free trees on Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon at the following MWRD water reclamation plants (WRPs):
Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 400 E. 130th St., Chicago
O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, 3500 Howard Street, Skokie
Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 6001 W. Pershing Rd., Cicero
Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 550 South Meacham Rd, Schaumburg
Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant, 1220 Sycamore Ave., Hanover Park
Kirie Water Reclamation Plant, 701 West Oakton St., Des Plaines
For more information:
Call the MWRD Office of Public Affairs at (312) 751-6633
Visit: www.mwrd.org
Email: public.affairs@mwrd.org
Just for fun: Post a selfie with your tree on Facebook or Twitter and tag @mwrdgc and @villageofriverside with #MyMWRDTree. You can also email pictures to public.affairs@mwrd.org.