Aldermen Ask: Wither Our Control of Trash Collection?

By aaroncynic in News on Oct 25, 2011 6:20PM

Among many of the proposals in Mayor Emanuel’s proposed budget is the loss of aldermen's coveted garbage collection powers. The Mayor’s office claims it would save $20 million if the city moved to grid garbage collection, rather than picking it up ward by ward. The proposal had plenty of city aldermen a little up in arms, saying at a hearing yesterday that they needed more information before making any changes.

Chicago spends more on trash pick up than most other major cities in America. According to the Wall Street Journal, it costs an estimated $231 per ton to haul garbage. Part of this is, in part, due to the gerrymandered design of wards over the years. But aldermen might not give up this sweet patronage perk to save money citywide so easily. We’d suggest if they want more information, they should drive a garbage collection route themselves, but we doubt those chauffeured town cars would fit through some of Chicago’s alleys.