Chicago Seeks to Save $20 Million Through More Efficient Waste Collection

Date: October 12, 2011

Source: City of Chicago

Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel has laid out the City's "2012 Budget Proposal to Secure Chicago's Future," which as expected includes plans to remake the city's antediluvian waste collection system and privatizing many of its functions. Among its most controversial measures is a plan to move to a grid system that would take responsibility for waste management away from the City's fifty legislative districts or wards each of which is headed by an aldermen that collectively comprise the City Council. That alone is expected to save the city $20 million per year by removing some of the ridiculous inefficiencies of collecting waste from one side of the street but not the other because of a ward boundary. Under the current system, the Mayor estimates that the city spends $100 more per ton to collect garbage than Los Angeles and Boston. His office said it would also implement managed competition to extend recycling services to more areas of the city.

See also: "Chicago Seeks to Privatize Waste Collection and Recycling," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20110726F.htm).


FROM PRESS RELEASE:

October 12, 2011

Mayor Rahm Emanuel Outlines 2012 Budget Proposal to Secure Chicago's Future

Reforms, efficiencies will save taxpayers $417 million, prevent increase in property, sales taxes. New Infrastructure initiative will create 18,000 jobs in next 10 years. $20 million in Rainy Day fund gets City back on path to financial security

. . .

Expanded Competitive Bidding: at least $20 million in savings

Reforms in how we deliver city services must extend to services like garbage collection. The current system, based on ward boundaries, is no longer sustainable. Chicago spends approximately 100 dollars more per ton to collect garbage than Los Angeles and Boston.

  • Move to garbage on grid, estimated savings of $20 million alone;

  • Potential implementation of competitive bidding for other services: curb and gutter repair, tree trimming, street marking, vehicle booting and towing.

www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2011/october_2011/mayor_rahm_emanueloutlines2012budgetproposaltosecurechicagosfutu.html

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