CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago City Council’s taking the month of August off, but Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) is pushing for a crackdown on private waste haulers who pick up the trash way too early in the morning.
La Spata said he’s received many complaints from 1st Ward residents who said they’re being awakened by private trash collectors.
“Our noise ordinance says that these pickups should be happening prior to 8 o’clock, but we have residents who report to us [that] folks are coming at 7 — 6 a.m.,” La Spata said.
He said some residents have reported trucks as early as 4 a.m.
In response, La Spata has introduced an ordinance that would require haulers to make GPS data available for their trucks when complaints are investigated.
The proposal would require that when there are complaints about noisy private trash haulers operating before 8:00 a.m., the companies must produce GPS data showing where the trucks were and when.
La Spata hopes to see a hearing before the city’s Finance and Environment Committees as soon as September. Meanwhile he'd be happy to talk with the trash companies.
He said that if it sounds like “First World” problems, or well-to-do folks complaining about mere inconveniences — think again. La Spata said if you have an 18-month-old baby in the house, for example, being awoken at hours early is not a small problem.
It's not a "1st Ward" problem either. La Spata said it's happening all around the city.
And it happens when people think they can get away with it, La Spata said.
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