Chicago Trash Removal Could Go To Every 10 Days Instead Of Weekly (VIDEO)

Trash removal costs a pretty penny for Chicago residents, so one alderman's idea to trim the city's budget allocation to the service should not come as too much of a surprise.

But still, 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti's suggestion to reduce the number of monthly trash pickup days from four (weekly) to three (every 10 days) has already been met with mixed-at-best reviews from some residents who say garbage bins in many parts of the city are already overflowing and attracting rodents on the monthly pickup schedule, FOX Chicago reports.

In response to those concerns, Fioretti claims that "people will get used to it," according to FOX Chicago.

(Scroll down to watch the report.)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has already taken steps to change how the city approaches trash pickup and, as of last month, was looking to hire a private consultant to help develop a more efficient and cost-effective system. That system will likely be one that is grid-based rather than the current ward-by-ward pickup schedule, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Last week, as part of their report [PDF] that outlined ways to save the city $242 million annually, the Chicago Federation of Labor suggested that the city should pick up garbage from small businesses, not just residents, in order to generate more revenue. They also argued that city workers in trash collection and other areas are actually cheaper than private companies in many cases, despite Emanuel's decision to hire companies to take over half the city's recycling business.

Emanuel said he was "happy" that the unions had offered their ideas.

Garbage Pickup Could be Extended to Once Every 10 Days to Save Chicago Money: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Comments

[LeaderofMen]

07:32 AM on 08/03/2011

My alderman will get an earful if that happens. The bins are already overflowing as it is.

[dsa1115]

01:30 AM on 08/03/2011

Rats and insects think this is an excellent plan.

[nbart71]

04:58 PM on 08/02/2011

Oh no, now what will the garbage men making 80K a year do with even less over-time?

[Mechelle Argento]

04:15 PM on 08/02/2011

Have any of these people walked down Argyle street recently? The trash piling up in the alleys next to the Korean restaurants are enough to make me throw up (as I did once on my way to work). I cannot imagine 10 days of rotting fish parts sitting in a garbage bin which is regularly visited by the homeless.

[patg00]

01:20 PM on 08/02/2011

Geez, the garbage pickup folks can barely figure out what day of the week they come through my alley. Every 10'th day is going to cause problems... that said, if they give me another two cans no problem.

[BVictor1]

11:41 AM on 08/02/2011

This is the problem, in Fioretti's ward you have a lot of condo highrises in the South Loop which have private trash haulers, so they wouldn't be affected.

The density is to high in Chicago to have more trash pile up..

[Bonnie Brill]

11:14 AM on 08/02/2011

This whole situation stinks...

[mikey09]

09:37 AM on 08/02/2011

Well, if the city starts collecting from small business's for a fee, won't that put some other private trash service out of business and mean less revenue from that trash business Would not be surprised to see Rahm privatize all trash pick-up in the city....

[hyader]

09:11 AM on 08/02/2011

here is a better way for budget allocations or cuts,,,,CHICAGO HAS TWICE THE CITY COUNCIL members as almost every other city , including LA and NY,,,,, and Illinois has TWICE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS,,,, CUT THEM IN HALF

[Bude]

08:52 AM on 08/02/2011

The rats are lobbying.

[mjschmitt]

04:46 AM on 08/02/2011

Great, ten days will be enough time for the maggots to turn into flies!

[samuraifrog37]

09:02 AM on 08/02/2011

As is seven. Dispose of your garbage and make less of it and you'll see a big diffence. Time to down size my friend.

[royce76]

11:55 PM on 08/01/2011

Every ten days fine. But then the city would have to enforce maximum occupancy laws in places such as humboldt park. Good Luck with that. We'd lose congressional seats!

[samuraifrog37]

09:05 AM on 08/02/2011

Just like they tried in Evanston at Northwestern? Why not lake view or Lincoln Park? Or Lincoln square? Good luck with that. We'd lose white kids who are destroying the diversity of this city...

[dsa1115]

09:44 PM on 08/01/2011

Democratic leadership has bankrupted the city. Just like it's bankrupted Cook County and the State of Illinois. What do these governments have in common? Correct, Democratic control.

[BVictor1]

11:52 AM on 08/02/2011

Maybe the economy has a little bit to do with that as there are red states that are also in the hole, there are conservative politicians that are guilty of corruption.

Take that 'garbage' somewhere else...

[Michael Luepnitz]

09:01 PM on 08/01/2011

Chicago already smells great. This will only help. Sarcasm

[tb philly]

08:56 PM on 08/01/2011

Good on Democratic chicago for ya. Mayor Daler left them in wonderful shape.