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Mayor Emanuel Announces $30 Million In Savings Following Completion Of Grid Garbage 2.0


Grid garbage system results in reduction of 60 refuse trucks each day, on average

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2017. Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the Chicago Department of Streets & Sanitation (DSS) has completed Grid 2.0, further refining the grid garbage collection system by identifying additional efficiencies and reducing refuse collection spending by more than $30 million in total.

“Achieving more effective and efficient City services saves taxpayer dollars and ensures residents are receiving high quality City services,” said Mayor Emanuel. “By moving to a grid garbage collection system we are able to continue to provide residents with the same high quality garbage collection service using drastically fewer resources.”

Since the implementation of the grid system, which replaced the ward-based system, DSS uses 60 fewer garbage trucks on average; in the ward-based system in 2011, 352 trucks were utilized as compared to 292 trucks utilized in 2016 under the grid system. Additionally, the grid system helps DSS to reduce the expenses associated with fuel, vehicle purchases and vehicle maintenance.

The implementation of the grid system has not only reduced operational costs in the Bureau of Sanitation, but it has enabled DSS to redirect resources to support other service areas. This has resulted in four major operational achievements: the Citywide expansion of the Residential Blue Cart Recycling program; the development of the City’s first refuse and recycling cart inventory system; the elimination of the tree trim backlog; and increased rodent baiting citywide.

The initial roll out of the grid system began during the summer of 2012, and continued through the spring of 2013. Upon completion, the department reduced its average daily deployment by more than 40 garbage trucks.

As part of the 2016 budget, DSS announced plans to further refine grid garbage under Grid 2.0, thereby decreasing the average daily deployment of garbage trucks even further from 309 to 292 by year’s end.

The grid system, which is universally used by municipalities and private refuse haulers, changed DSS’ collection routes from non-linear ward geography to a system of routes bordered by main streets and natural boundaries. The service model concentrates sanitation workers in targeted areas of the city each day and creates balanced service regions to improve daily collection performance.

Residents who would like more information about refuse and recycling services can visit www.cityofchicago.org/dss or call 311.

Source: http://cityofchicago.org


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