City Council Committee Votes To End Free Garbage Exemptions For Large Multi-Unit Buildings

(CBS) -- Free garbage pick-up for some 1,800 residential buildings is a step closer to ending in Chicago. Aldermen have taken a preliminary vote to end the deal, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

Single-family homes and buildings with fewer than five units can get free garbage pick-up and there have been more than 1,800 buildings to receive that perk too.

But 19th Ward Alderman Matthew O'Shea notes almost 800 of those were found to be ineligible and now the exemption will be eliminated completely.

"The 794 buildings, right now, are cheating the system, cheating the taxpayers," O'Shea said. "If we get these buildings in compliance, that will save taxpayers upwards of $3 million."

If the full City Council oks the ordinance, Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Charles Williams says the owners of the once-exempt buildings will have 90 days to find their own private trash haulers.

In:
• Craig Dellimore
• Department of Streets and Sanitation
• Chicago City Council