It's a good point.
committed
that
clarification. Yeah 1
Is yours double-sided because that would be really good.
the audience
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, the committee on Environmental Protection.
Good afternoon. The committee on Environmental Protection
will now come to order.
today we're going to be
Today we're going to be addressing the department of
streets and sanitation recycling program.
streets and sanitation recycling programs and services
before we hear from the Department. We will first begin
with a roll call to established quor.
with a roll call to establish quorum.
Um chair Haden is here.
Um chair Haden is here Vice chair kuden president.
all all the person lasata
Alder person Ramirez
alder-person Lopez
Alder person tabaris
Alder person Scott
alder-person sick Joe Lopez Alder person Cruise
alder-person Rodriguez Sanchez
Alder
alder-person Conway
Alder person Riley
Alder person clay
Alder person Martin
alder-person Minal hoppenworth
alder-person Lawson
all right, uh we have
All right, uh we have what is that 10?
We have 10 members.
We have 10 members present. We have a quorum. Um, so
joining us virtually is Alder person law.
joining us virtually is Alder person Lawson her rule 59.
Can I have a motion to approve all of our person Lawson's
uh remote participation now that we've established forum.
Yes. All right. So moved by Alder person Conway.
all those in favor say I I all
All those in favor say I I all those opposed say nay.
And the opinion of the chair of the eyes have it?
and the opinion of the chair of the eyes have it and Alder
person Lawson, uh will be marked present for today's
meeting. Um, I want to thank non-members, uh, uh Alderman
David Moore for being present today Alderman Matt OSHA.
thank you for being here. So at this time, we're going to
begin the public.
begin the public comment period public comment is limited
to 30 minutes.
to 30 minutes out of respect for everybody's time. Each
speaker will be limited.
speaker will be limited to 3 minutes. Um,
We're going to start with um an Ridge.
um, and so actually
Um, and so actually, um, we can get the microphone over
there.
Or you can come to the microphone either way.
Um, I'll keep my comments brief. Um, I believe Alder had
in.
and that you received a letter from Barbara Cooper.
organizing for Plastics Alternatives stating.
organizing for Plastics Alternatives stating our concerns.
And so Barbara couldn't be here today, but I wanted to be
here, um my own personal concern
here. Um my own personal concern I really have to say is
the recycling issue is something that is such a great
concern.
concern and um, I I don't know if any of you have gone down
to see the blue Paradox the exhibit at the Museum of
Science and Industry dealing with the Plastics problem.
Science and Industry dealing with the Plastics problem in
our country in our world you can
our country in our world, you can go there and you can put
your own information in and see what your footprint is.
When you see what the footprint of Chicago and Illinois is
on the world.
It's horrifying.
There are no words for it.
I believe and I work I worked for the state for 31.
I believe and I work I worked for the state for 31 years.
I know we can do better.
I know we can't.
we
We have the resources. We have the we have the intelligence
we have the commitment.
We just have to make some really important changes.
I advise all of you to go to the Museum of Science.
Industry and see the blue Paradox exhibit. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comment and for members of the
committee, um the letter she referenced.
committee, um the letter she referenced was sent out to the
committee. Um last night. Um, we can share
throughout as well. Um also want to wreck uh, recognize uh
older person list for our purposes.
older person list for our purposes of quorum.
Um our next speaker.
Is Marjorie is?
Is Marjorie isacson?
Good afternoon.
My name is Marjorie isacson, and I'm a board member of the
Chicago recycling Co.
Chicago recycling Coalition. We are a 40-year-old
organization.
organization that has championed responsible.
organization that has championed responsible recycling
since before the city of Chicago.
since before the city of Chicago had a recycling program.
Chicago has made great strides since these.
Chicago has made great strides since these days avoiding
sending usable material.
sending usable material to landfills is more important than
ever.
due to the relationship between
Due to the relationship between waste and climate change.
the blue carts which include only the waste stream from
to 4 unit buildings our service by the city's Department of
streets and sand and Lakeshore recycling services.
LR
Lrs is a vast Improvement compared to the previous.
contractor Waste Management.
LR
Lrs has proven to be transparent in their operations.
Lrs, has proven to be transparent in their operations and
their new state-of-the-art materials recover.
their new state-of-the-art materials recovery facility is
able to capture a significant.
able to capture a significant percentage of materials.
Chicago's recycling rate has hovered around a dismal 9% for
most of its history.
This is significantly worse.
This is significantly worse than other major American
cities.
There are absolutely improvements and efficiencies that
There are absolutely improvements in efficiencies that can
be made.
Chicago has done a poor job of deploy.
Chicago has done a poor job of deploying and essential
feature of successful programs.
feature of successful programs, which is public education.
There is little follow-up and reinforcement for proper.
recycling practices.
unfortunately
Unfortunately residents have become frustrated and
disillusioned.
disillusioned with previous ineffective recycling program.
disillusioned with previous ineffective recycling programs.
until people can be convinced that
Until people can be convinced that it's worth their efforts
to use the blue.
to use the blue cart.
recycling operations will have
Recycling operations will have limited impact.
another sign
Another significant difference between Chicago and other
cities.
cities are the resources allocated to their recycling.
programs other cities have significant.
programs other cities have significantly bigger budgets
than Chicago.
than Chicago's DSS has
higher levels of funding our integral to to success
attention should also be paid to the management of other
larger portions of the waste stream.
This includes waste from large.
This includes waste from large multi-unit residential.
buildings commercial facilities.
buildings commercial facilities construction and demolition
debris and other material.
debris and other materials.
Chicago has begun to address the organic portion of the
residential.
Residential Waste stream with their new food scrap.
Residential Waste stream with their new food scrap drop off
program. This is a great.
program. This is a great first step, but Chicago's
landscape.
landscape waste collection system still needs fixing.
landscape waste collection system still needs fixing yard
waste continues to be sent to landfill.
waste continues to be sent to landfills in violation of
Illinois Law.
collection of additional materials
Collection of additional materials such as textiles should
be pursued.
improving
And investing in recycling instead.
and investing in recycling instead of paying for
landfilling is an environmental.
landfilling is an environmental necessity in this time of
climate.
climate change.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak on this
important issue.
Thank you so much for your comments.
Um as there are no more speakers who have timely signed up
the public comment.
the public comment period is concluded. So thank you to all
of our speakers.
of our speakers today.
Um, I would like to note that the committee received.
Um, I would like to note that the committee received, uh, 1
written public comment that we noted. It's been sent out to
committee members. Um again, I'll say for non-committee mem
members if you'd like to see that, um, we can share it with
you as well. Um,
we also shared with you.
We also shared with you the Delta Institute City of Chicago
waste strategy.
waste strategy report, um for your review.
so today
So today we are joined by our guest from the Department of
streets and San
streets and sanitation. Um commissioner kowal Stallard.
Hello.
Hello and Deputy Commissioner, Chris suve, um to discuss
the department.
the Department's efforts to ameliorate and expand the
city's recycling program.
city's recycling programs and services in 2020 the
department and partnership with the office of climate
equity.
Equity, uh, climate environmental equity and the Delta
Institute embarked on an analysis of the city's recycling
programs.
In 2021, the department released its city of Chicago.
In 2021 the department released its City of Chicago waste
strategy.
the report comprehensively examined
The report comprehensively examined the city's existing
waste management programs and identified.
waste management programs and identified opportunities to
increase efficiency decrease.
increase efficiency decrease waste disposal and maximize
the city's Workforce.
from that report 12 areas were prioritized including
Chicago's first ever Citywide composting program.
rolled out in the fall of 2023.
today we'll
today, we'll hear from commissioner Stallard and Deputy
Commissioner suve on their successes and reducing waste and
other areas of opportunity that they are actively pursuing.
with that I
With that I want to welcome our guests who have taken time
out of their busy schedules to join.
out of their busy schedules to join us today, um, even with
our delay of a day full of busy committee, uh hearings, so
I'll now turn it over to commissioner Stallard and uh,
Deputy Commissioner.
Deputy Commissioner suet to share more following their
presentations. Um, we will um open this up to members for
Q.
Q&A. Um, so thank you both.
Thank you.
good afternoon animal
Good afternoon, Automotive chair Haden members of Chicago
city council. Thank you for the opportunity.
city council. Thank you for the opportunity to present our
recycling efforts before you today.
Since the release of the 2021 Chicago waste strategy the
department.
department has been provided with increased funding to
boost the city's recycling efforts. We remain grateful for
those additional resources and have since onboarded.
those additional resources and have since on boarded for
New Recycling staff members reinforcing.
New Recycling staff members reinforcing our dedication to
sustainable future through increased recycling rates waste
reduction and environmental.
reduction and environmental progress.
with these added resources
With these added resources and in partnership with the now
re-established Department of environment.
We launched a new food scrap program.
We launched a new food scrap program at 15 locations
throughout Chicago last.
throughout Chicago last fall.
by providing composting options to Chicago
By providing composting options to Chicago residents. We
can both reduce harmful greenhouse gases.
can both reduce harmful greenhouse gases emissions that
occur when organic food material.
occur when organic food material decomposes in the landfill
and return organic materials.
to the Earth creating
To the Earth creating healthier soils and communities.
as of february 2024
residents have diverted 67 tons 67 tons of food scraps from
land.
landfills. We have since expanded the program to 2 new
location.
locations and we will continue to research and add new
locations in the future.
to enhance transparency of our
To enhance transparency of our recycling process. We now
feature a blue cart.
feature a blue cart recycling story map on our revamped
website.
website Chicago recycles.org.
story map illustrates the Journey of recyclables
from the point of pickup the routes for pickup and whose
responsible where the materials are sorted go.
responsible where the materials are sorted the tonnage of
recyclables collected and the desk.
recyclables collected and the desk destinations of the
processing into new materials for reuse.
to further enhance recycling Outreach
To further enhance recycling Outreach and education. We
relaunched the recycling block.
relaunched the recycling block Captain program with regular
and ongoing communic.
and ongoing communication to approximately 700 particip.
and ongoing communication to approximately 700 participants
on the program.
uh to update
Uh to update an industry news. We are also offering tours.
of our new lrs exchange facility.
To the recycling black captains this month.
Further we are in the process of hiring.
Further we are in the process of hiring 3 more positions 2
of which.
will focus
Will focus on increased Outreach and education.
Will focus on increased Outreach and education to Residents
in all parts of the city.
additional recycling efforts include composting initiative
with neighbor space at 6 Community Gardens since 2021
funded partially through a grant from the natural resources
defense Council.
defense Council as part of the Food Matters initiative.
and through the Chicago recovery plan the
And through the Chicago recovery plan. The locations are on
the neighbor space protected community garden.
the neighbor space protected community garden sites located
across the city.
We are also we also worked with our recycling.
We are also we also worked with our recycling Partners to
double the number of pumpkin smashed locations last year.
double the number of pumpkin smashed locations last year
and we host the holiday tree recycling event.
and we host the holiday tree recycling event every year in
January both events. Help divert organic materials from
landfills and reduce green.
landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and we see
the number of tons collected.
the number of tons collected increase every year.
DSS recently amended the recycling ordinance to enhance
enforcement of commercial.
enforcement of commercial Recycling and we transition the
city's waste.
city's waste reporting system to a dynamic digital
platform.
the new hauler report portal separates commercial
Residential Waste providing more granular data.
Residential Waste providing more granular data for material
streams and by weight and providing more clar.
streams and by weight and providing more clarity on our
diversion rates.
I am also on the advisory.
I am also on the advisory Council committee for pending
State legislation.
State legislation on an extended producer responsibility
EP.
epr at Senate Bill. 1 15555.
which will inform the final epr legislation related to
pack?
packaging and paper goods as well as funding for the rec.
recycling programs when fully implemented we
recycling programs when fully implemented. We hope this
legislation will provide curbside recycling.
legislation will provide curbside recycling to all
communities in Illinois with over.
communities in Illinois with over 1500 residents with
Chicago.
Chicago with Chicago's DSS household Park District and CPS.
bluecart recycling program having their collection service.
expenses fully reimbursed.
At Senate bill it will be fully reimbursed most.
At Senate bill it will be fully reimbursed. Most recently.
We worked with the food packaging Institute on a
promotional.
promotional campaign on the addition of paper cups.
promotional campaign on the addition of paper cups to the
accepted material list for blue carts. Thank you again for
allowing us to present our recycling goals.
accomplishments the diversion of organic materials.
landfills remains a top priority for the Department of
Street.
streets and sanitation as a means to reduce greenhouse gas.
emissions to create healthier communities.
and fight
And fight against climate change. Thank you.
Thank you commissioner.
Want to open it up to?
Questions and comments. I see uh Alder person.
Questions and comments. I see uh Alder person Martin Alder
person more and I'll just keep a status.
person more and I'll just keep a status raise a hand.
Thank you. Um, thank you chair. Um 2 questions just
elaborating on.
elaborating on the helpful handout 1 if you can share a
status update in terms of um funding from the
government to undertake a curbside compost.
government to undertake a curbside composting pilot that I
think if done well could complement the drop off locations
that are being expanded across the city.
that are being expanded across the city and then second, um
with regard to Commercial and demolition debris. I know
that we had a hearing last year talking about the work that
cdph is doing to update their system internally because if
memory serves the ig's office,
memory serves the ig's office had estimated that upwards of
25% of all,
25% of all recyclable materials are from commercial.
demolition, um related sites so I know
demolition, um related sites. So I know we our focused a
lot in our blue bins our black bins, but that's another
area that can really help us get well above the 9% that 1
of our public commenters had mentioned
understood and and know that we have
over 7,000 folks that have signed up for the composting.
4,600 4,600 with goals to expand we expanded to 17. Uh
locations. We work with Alders.
locations. We work with Alders and the Alders office to try
to uh, roll this out to where we did it by our city FAQ.
facilities to see what the
we wanted to make sure there wasn't going to be a a a
added.
Mass to and we've had nothing but great success.
Mass to and we've had nothing but great success with the
locations that we had. Uh, we've worked with.
locations that we had. Uh, we've worked with rodent control
closely to ensure that.
uh those issues are addressed and
Uh, those issues are addressed and again, um, it's been a
it's been a wonderful program.
it's been a wonderful program again. We've rolled out 2
more locations.
more locations just recently, uh 1 thing I'd like to add is
we have some handouts
is we have some handouts for people to do. Um backyard
composting.
we have
We have bins that we're going to be working with the Alders
coming.
coming up.
to um hand out
To um hand out to people that are really interested in
composting and signing.
composting and signing up. So we're trying to get this
message out any way we can uh, the construction debris is
something that's friend of mine for me as well. Um, just as
the
Large buildings, you know as far as them self-reporting.
Large buildings, you know as far as them self-reporting, um,
not to expect award superintendent.
not to expect award superintendent and go knock on all the
doors downtown to see but to get them to self-report to buy
in. I think that will help our numbers.
um
And again, we we know we can do better. We're we're
graduating towards doing better. We hope and uh any answer
that I may have not answered. We'll we'll get we'll get
through the chair
Alderman Moore
Thank you. Chairman Hannah. First of all, I want to thank
you for bringing um this um subject.
you for bringing um this um, subject matter hearing, uh,
before you I appreciate your commitment.
before you I appreciate your commitment, um to doing that.
Uh, I have I do want to go on record and saying as um, this
is my resolution to bring uh, I invited lrs to be here. Is
anybody from lrs here?
So I'm going to say it's disappointing that.
So I'm going to say it's disappointing that no 1 from lrs
is here. Um, um, I appreciate our commissioner who is doing
an exceptional job who communicates uh with me, um
consistently and but for lrs not to be here.
consistently and but for lrs, not to be here is um
something that is not um, um accepted by me and is uh as a
council when we're advocating for our constituents when we
asking people to come before us, um, especially if the the
the amount of dollars that they're receiving. Um, they have
a responsibility, um to do that, so I just want to
For the record now, let me let me start at the beginning.
For the record now, let me let me start at the beginning on
uh on this how much is this?
uh on this. How much is this contract for the recycling
Contracting for how many years?
Contract was for 3 years.
And it's a how many how much was the is the contract?
And it's a how many how much was the is the contract 8088
was it 80 million? I
don't uh, the original uh, 3 year base was
Don't uh, the original uh, 3 year base was an 800 million
the the current costs are.
The the current costs are about 28 million for lrs.
Repeat that I'm sorry 28 million for the current year.
Repeat that I'm sorry 28 million for the current year or
lrs. But it was a 3 year 80 million.
lrs. But it was a 3 year 80 million 3 year 3 year. I went
to 30 year. What year are we in? We're in year 3 of the
original base, right? So this kind of
original base, right? So this contract expires when it goes
into an extens.
into an extension June of this year to June of next year.
and it it can't go into the extension, but we can re
it if possible right we can Okay, so
it if possible right we can okay so question. Um,
do
Do you have with you how many other?
Do you have with you how many other bidders bid it on this
contract?
Before and and what what did they come in?
Before and and what what did they come in at? So for context
the the recycling services in the city are provided by in 6
different zones or service areas?
different zones or service areas. Each service area has
approximately 100,000.
approximately 100,000 households in each area. Uh, so when
the bid was put out, uh in 2020 and 21 it was to receive uh
bids for services.
bids for services for each 1 of those service areas 4 of
those areas.
those areas are under contracted Services the other 2.
remain with streets and sand service.
I don't have a full detailing of the bids.
I don't have a full detailing of the bids from 3 years ago,
but I'd be happy to provide that.
but I'd be happy to provide that through the chair right
because I want to see.
because I want to see um, uh because
I'm I'm sort of almost want to relate it or compare it to.
um a situation we had with.
um a situation we had with even in uh with grass cutting or
and some other situations where people under bed to get the
Conte.
contract, but then there are some Sometimes some
performance ISS.
issues because of that so if you can provide that through
the chair before as uh,
the chair before as uh before our city council, um,
although this is not a voting matter. I would like to have
that um information the other part in Ordinance do we
that um information the other part in Ordinance, do we have
uh reporting requirements for lrs. We do. Can you explain
those reporting requirements? So the the the services that
are Conte
are contracted out for recycling collections have been in
place we've
for a 10 year, uh term it.
for a 10 year, uh term it was fully rolled out at the end
of 201.
of 2013 2014 was the first full year of Citywide bluecart
recycling.
um through the course of uh, changing contractors and when
lrs bid and it was awarded the contracts.
lrs bid and it was awarded the contracts in 2021, we heard
from the city council.
from the city council, uh about previous problems with
contracted.
contracted services this bid with lrs now,
contracted services. This bid with lrs now includes a
provision to have liquidated damages.
provision to have liquidated damages for performance. That
is missed meaning a missed pickup, uh, missed reporting.
Um, we have uh, an obligation that lrs needs to every year
provide a composition.
provide a composition study of the material that's going
into those recycling containers that did not previously
exist in any of our Contracting before so those provisions
and and the the the ability for the Department to penalize
that vendor for non-performance has drastically
what they are doing meaning their performance the missed
pickups those the percentages based on the number of
households that they're Servicing.
is miniscule
the liquidated damages, uh, is that that stick that we
needed to?
needed to penalize these folks if they were not performing
the services for that that they're obligated to do through
this contract. We realize it's a service that is mandatory
in.
in the city. It's something that we're providing on a
weekly basis.
weekly basis for refugees. We want to make sure that we're
ensuring the exact same.
ensuring the exact same type of services whether it's
streets.
streets in Santa whether a contractor. Um, so again,
liquidated damages are based off Mis pickups.
liquidated damages are based off Mis pickups misreporting
and the daily there's daily weekly and monthly.
and the daily there's daily weekly and monthly reporting
that they're obligated to to submit to us.
that they're obligated to to submit to us daily weekly and
monthly report.
monthly reporting just as an example Alderman the daily
reporting is after they've completed their routes they need
to submit to us.
need to submit to us, uh, the completion by their route
managers and provided the GPS reporting to show that all
the routes that they had.
the routes that they had for the day have been completed.
Okay, and
so daily weekly and monthly reporting.
Have they complied 100% I know.
Have they complied 100% I know we got things in place, but
what at what rate have they been?
what at what rate have they been reporting consistently
both daily weekly and monthly so I'll give you an example
of of missed pickups from last year that are reported
through.
through 311. This is entire Citywide. So this will include
streets.
streets and sand service areas. We had about 3,600.
pickup requests. Hold on.
I just want to know they're recording not sure somebody else
may ask what?
may ask what was missed and all that. I just want to know
reporting so
reporting. So they're reporting missed pickups. That's I'm
just asking about their reporting. So if if I don't know,
how is how long they've been doing it now 2 is it 3?
how is how long they've been doing it now 2, is it 3 years
now? It's 3 years, right? So in 3 years 365 days times 3
times the weeks.
times the weeks time. What is their rate of reporting? Are
they 100% reporting daily? Are they?
they 100% reporting daily? Are they 100% reporting weekly
are they 100% reporting monthly uh on the report?
are they 100% reporting monthly, uh on the reports. I I
would have to get you that information.
would have to get you that information to you to share I
can speak to the the total amount of liquidated damages for
the contract has been 78 thousand.
the contract has been 78 thousand dollars for those 3
years.
Q Q4 of 2023 there were were no instances.
Q Q4 of 2023 there were were no instances of any liquidated
damages any penalties against the vendor.
damages any penalties against the vendor and then just to
clarify for that request through the chair.
clarify for that request through the chair What I Hear, um
Alderman Moore are you asking is for the daily, uh weekly
monthly reporting.
monthly reporting have they just completed the reports and
what that completion rate is.
what that completion rate is we can provide the breakdown
of how the damages were assessed at.
of how the damages were assessed at any reporting that was
missed.
Okay, and add a repeater state.
Okay, and add a repeater statement because it's not just the
damages. Yes. Well, he said and any reporting we looked
down to a granular.
down to a granular level for your award for example out of
I'm going to say they probably pick up.
You know.
You know 1 over a million household. You're getting picked
up a million times.
up a million times in a year. They they there was a
reported that it was missed.
reported that it was missed 119. So we have it broke down
Pro.
Pro Lord, so we know of a million times they picked up.
Pro Lord. So we know of a million times they picked up cans
in in the 17th Ward.
in in the 17th Ward that 119 were missed not put up where
we had to go back so they get to that level of detail,
okay?
now, how do
Now, how do I recycling rates compared to other cities?
First of all, what is our actual rate? We're at 10% right
now and
I'll say this.
that
we know we can do better.
but when we get compared to other places like on the west
coast, for example, they they literally count.
What they dredge out of the water?
What they dredge out of the water towards their numbers.
so that's why I get into the self-reporting for the
high-rise buildings so we can capture that.
um
Um, we pick up everything we tend to pick up everything. So
that number is based.
that number is based off the amount of garbage and trash
that we're picking up yearly.
Uh, but right now we're at for the first 3 months of the
year. We're at 10.1 10% again. I
listen to the
Listen to The Advocates. I listen to the council we
know we can do better. We want to do better. Um, we think
this Senate Bill 1555 coming out is going to help us get
better we know
better. We know it's going to help us get better.
um
Um, and that's in 2026.
Uh, we're going to continue.
Uh, we're going to continue to push the Organics. We're
going to continue.
going to continue to
educate the people.
educate the people and I bring just L simple.
educate the people and I bring just simple things of us
getting our messaging.
getting our messaging out.
our web traffic
increase was 1800 visits.
Just from this.
Just from this micro site. That was done. We're
Just from this micro site that was done. We're at 62000
visits. So it's people are looking for this information. We
want to be able to provide it. That's why we did the story
the story line map. If if you haven't seen the the the the
the the the story line that we worked with with lrs. It's
impressive.
uh lrs is looking to do the the walk through later on in
this month with people to see the efforts that are going
into it. We we stood in the
I'm gonna assume.
I'm gonna assume it's the ninth ward now, um down on the
south side for the composting the compost. I'm talking
about the composting. We went out there and visited, uh,
that site that was very impress.
site that was very impressive. So there's things that in my
20 plus years that I've seen when we were with the blue bag
program.
program to where we are today.
We know.
We know we can continue to get better and we will.
We know we can continue to get better and we will okay just
for clarification purpose.
for clarification purpose when we talk about the rate. What
does that rate reflect?
does that rate? Reflect? What what is that if we pick up?
does that rate? Reflect? What what is that if we pick up x
amount of garbage? That's our weight for the year.
That's what figures out our percent.
That's what figures out our percentage.
So we pick up.
everything everything
and in these West Coast cities
doesn't work like that.
we
We as a municipality. We pick up everything someone puts
out that couch.
Streets and Sans picking it up.
So our number is so high and I'm not making.
So our number is so high and I'm not making this is not an
excuse.
We got to continue to.
We got to continue to get the messaging out.
Trust me when I tell you we work.
Trust me when I tell you we work together on on an
environmental note.
We work together.
We work together as a group.
and I'm going to be able to say
And I'm going to be able to say next week. We trimmed over
96.
96,000 trees with the same amount of Manpower that we had.
from the year before where we only did 31,000 and that was
from listening to
folks like are in the audience listening to this body.
having the support of everybody.
along with the
Along with the mayor the mayor's office and we're able we
trim.
trimmed 60,000 plus more trees.
because we're
Because we're understanding and everybody's hearing. Hey,
we got to do better for the environment. So it's my goal is
the commissioner of this department.
To to move try to move all this forward.
I'm I'm just going to be my last question. Give my other
colleagues the opportunity. What is the measurement of our
um our for the success of our blue lock car program? How
how is that measured?
well
I'm going to say the percentage but we can't hang our head
on the percentage. It's us literally.
on the percentage. It's us literally going into composting.
us getting
Us getting in the composting us.
Um
getting messaging out we
Getting messaging out. We again when we see 18 1800.
getting messaging out. We again when we see 18 1800 votes
to 62,000 vote at 6.
to 62,000 vote 62,000. Um looks
We gotta jump on that. We we have to get that message out we
have to get in.
We have to get in those little ears and CPS to get that
message.
message through and CPS and through the park district. So
hey.
hey, this is this is important stuff. So we have our clean
and green.
and green on April 20th. We're going to try to get that
message out. Um, there's just things that we do,
message out. Um, there's just things that we do that um are
key
to helping us get
To helping us get our message out of the importance of
recycling.
Okay. Thank you chair.
Thank you Alderman more for your questions. Um I've got
Thank you Alderman more for your questions. Um, I've got
Alder person laspada and then Alder person.
Alder person laspada and then alder-person Lopez.
I press.
I press it. Um, thank you very much chair. Thank you very
much.
much gentlemen for presenting today as someone.
much gentlemen for presenting today as someone who I was
sharing with Deputy Commissioner survey.
sharing with Deputy Commissioner survey earlier a my family
is an active participant.
is an active participant in the food scrap program. It's
become part of our weekly routine as it has for a lot.
first word residents, and I'm really really grateful.
first word residents and I'm really really grateful to see
the successful of something that I know you all.
the successful of something that I know you all put a lot
of work into I'm curious.
of work into I'm curious just a couple of quick questions
when we talk about waste diversion.
Do we have a breakdown?
Do we have a breakdown of commercial waste?
do we have a breakdown of commercial waste diversion versus
um
Like, uh Residential Waste diversion is there.
Like, uh Residential Waste diversion, is there is there a
disparity in those numbers at all?
So part of what we are articulated in that.
so part of what we are articulated in that was uh called
for in the waste strategy and what the commissioner
mentioned is opening statement is doing a better job.
mentioned is opening statement is doing a better job, uh of
getting the reporting, uh complet.
getting the reporting, uh, complete reporting from waste
companies, so,
companies. So what we launched, uh going into this year was
an online reporting form for specific.
an online reporting form for specific, uh activity that the
waste haulers are doing uh part of uh, the
Strategy Al also called out for just having better oversight
and regulation on.
and regulation on uh, waste facility reporting. That's a
function of cdph. We actually worked.
function of cdph. We actually worked with cdph to make sure
that the reporting that they're getting matches the
reporting that we're getting we I think we
reporting that we're getting. We I think we've with this
new online reporting we're going to be able to track those
numbers better and come up with a what
What you're asking for is what's done?
What you're asking for is what's done a commercial side
versus residential side part of that reporting?
year also articulated that we wanted to see how much of the
percentage and the tonnage was coming from Resident.
collection versus commercial collection. So we are getting
that information.
that information now, so do we the 10% number that you
were?
talking about earlier? That's specific to what
talking about earlier that's specific to what streets and
sanitation specifically to our operations. So our Black
Card versus our blue cards and other diversion programming
that 10% reflects only.
that 10% reflects only the streets in sand level of
material that's out there.
material. That's out there. Got it. Got it. This makes me
want to well.
want to well I have to sit down to revisit that franchising
convers.
conversation that we had had in the past because I think
there's there's means for us to get better numbers.
some of these folks. Um, I wanted to
commercial
topic so like
what we've been able to achieve on the residential side in
terms of tens of tons is exception.
terms of tens of tons is exceptional and I I'm
I would pay place a bet that we exceed a 100 tons in
residential.
residential food scraps diverted by the end of this year.
what we could accomplish on the
What we could accomplish on the commercial side.
feels exponentially greater than that, and I'm I'm
wondering if you all have line of sight into how other
municipalities uh address.
municipalities, uh address encourage. Um,
municipalities, uh address encourage, um, composting food
scrap diversion on the commercial.
scrap diversion on the commercial side cranes reported on
this recently on initiatives taken on by individual
restaurants, but it are are there.
mandates Municipal incentives that other cities have in
place very expensive the the fines and fees if you don't
it's very expensive.
On the west coast it's very expensive to get rid of.
garbage. Very expensive to get rid of garbage.
in the midwest if you looked at the
In the midwest if you looked at the comparison and prices.
I'll say it.
I'll say it again. It's very expensive to get rid of
garbage.
garbage on the West Coast.
so
So between fines fees and the expense.
It's a real big.
It's a real big Initiative for people to do.
to recycle because the cost is if you
To recycle because the cost is if you don't recycle the
cost is very expensive to those folks.
Again, where we lack?
Again, where we lack is reporting which was pointed out.
the Inspector General report on the high-rise.
So we're looking at that we're going to work with.
so we're looking at that we're going to work with um the
new Technology Group to try to work in uh on how we can.
capture that number.
because there's
Because there's low-hanging fruit out there that we're not
capturing.
capturing and so for me to sit in front of this group or
the full Council and say we're at 10% or to sit in front of
people that are here. It's
We're not getting full credit. Where what what?
we're not getting full credit. We're what what the city is
doing and not not streets in sand, but what?
doing and not not streets in sand but what the city is
doing because we're not able to capture that data and and
that those are things we're working on.
that those are things we're working on if I may, uh,
Allure.
in terms of composting especially food waste, you know part
of the part of the failing that we had at least in my own
personal experience is uh what the entire supply chain
looked like for?
looked like for food that's produced or sold or consumed.
looked like for food that's produced or sold or consumed in
the city and part of the work we
the city and part of the work. We did that the commissioner
highlighted in his opening statement with the nrdc was to
be a part of a food.
be a part of a food, um food rescue assessment.
because part of the
Because part of the the waste stream that does include food.
you know part of what we're trying to do with this, uh with
the organic stream itself is to figure out where we could
capture interrupted the the chain.
capture interrupted the the chain and you know capture that
food, uh and Rescue
food, uh and rescue it and get it to people that actually
need it first, so it's not even
need it first. So it's not even arguing your waist stream.
So, you know when you mentioned like the commercial side of
uh opportunity,
of uh opportunity so Food donation is obviously huge but
from you know, the very back end our department.
from you know, the very back end our department and what we
do is the last stop.
do is the last stop right if it's not being used not being
consumed. It's probably going to go into a container that's
picked up as a waste product so that food rescue assessment
that
assessment that might teams have been a part of is to
discuss these types of things.
discuss these types of things with other. Uh, it's a cohort
of Midwestern.
of Midwestern cities at the moment, but it's also a shared
network of even International cities to understand these
food problems that exist.
food problems that exist again in places like Italy so,
are trying and tapped into the resources that you know,
are trying and tapped into the resources that you know that
we're also called out that we did not have previous.
now that we have additional resources within our
department.
and staff that can focus on these types of issues. I I
think there's going to be tremendous progress in these next
few years. I I appreciate it. I mean my my last question I
would kind of pivot from the the organic to the inorganic
and we we took some opening steps last term in terms of
trying to reduce single-use PL.
trying to reduce single-use Plastics. Try trying to reduce
Kylie styrene and the like Styrofoam products
Are there are there?
are there are their next steps for us to build on. I mean,
I'm not sure how low this fruit lies but even
about Municipal facilities.
about Municipal facilities City buildings the potential use
or like discouragement of single-use plastics there.
are what are some of the steps that we can be looking at
from either?
from either a policy or a legislative perspective? I'm
going to ask and I'm going to share I'm going to have Chris
share with the the group through the chair, but Senate
bill.
15555 that I sit on that committee.
Is going to be a game changer. It's going to be a game
changer. That's why he's saying a couple.
changer. That's why he's saying a couple years.
a couple years
We're going to we're going to be able to.
move forward towards that so the support of 7 Senate Bill
15555 again is is uh is going to be good for us.
and for the state of Illinois
Chris would you mind elaborating what?
Chris would you mind elaborating what so extended producer
responsibility would?
responsibility would would which is um where other states
have started to to?
have started to to to go towards would help fully fund?
have started to to to go towards would help fully fund, uh
recycling across the state of Illinois so mun,
recycling across the state of Illinois. So municipalities
that have zero recycling programming whatsoever. They
have their uh, potentially have their recycling programs.
paid for similarly with with our program. It could be
potentially fully funded by uh extend.
potentially fully funded by uh, extended producer
responsibility. It would it would obligate producers of
materials to submit
State funds to end up collecting it and recycling it so.
State funds to end up collecting it and recycling it. So,
uh, you know imagine where our program is.
uh, you know imagine where our program is fully funded and
the resources we could then have to offer other program.
to divert more material from waist stream.
to divert more material from waste streams the in inert
materials or inorganic materials that you mentioned if we
had more programming.
had more programming opportunities to extract even more
from what goes into a landfill. It's just going to benefit
everybody overall.
everybody overall the concept being that if I'm a producer
of plastic straws plastic bag.
of plastic straws plastic bags. I am at least partially
responsible for the the end of life for them. Correct
awesome.
Awesome, and I'll I'll I'll add to that. Um, we've had at
least some initial meetings with um, uh, the Illinois
beverage Association and American be
beverage Association and American Beverage Association as
well as they kind of filled Us in this so as commissioner
said he sits on this, uh task force committee advisory
Council advisory Council. Thank you. I forgot
Council advisory Council, thank you. I forgot what the term
was officially um, and it is exciting. Um, and it's
something that I, you know at some point when they they're
pretty fresh, but when they have some initial
things to share we definitely would like to have um those
findings before our committee to hear about what
pushing for at the stakes. I think there are a lot of um,
really big opportunities right as they've um got this
Advisory Group set up and are really thinking about
How we transform?
How we transform right like kind of beyond what even?
think of currently as recycling? Yeah. I love it. I love
it. Thank you.
it. Thank you chair for holding this hearing. Thank you
very much gentlemen, thank you for
very much. Gentlemen. Thank you for the questions. Older
person Lopez.
Thank you madam. Chairman and good a
Thank you madam chairman and good afternoon.
members of the committee, uh commissioner, uh
to you both. Thank you, uh couple quick questions.
We have 6 zones. You said correct of which 4 are?
We have 6 zones. You said correct of which 4 are private 2
are correct? Yes. Yes. Can you provide us the compliance by
Zone?
Um the information the uh privy
Um the information the uh, private hauler compliance
information by Zone.
Yes, do the chair do the chair? Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah, not right now through the chair. Um, can you provide
us?
us uh contamination by Ward?
Yes.
Yes, um.
along with
Along with that. Can you provide us enforcement?
Along with that. Can you provide us enforcement by Ward
because I think that 1 of the things that I heard you say.
Commissioners that we want to get better we can get better.
I believe you can.
I believe you can get better but of all the things that
I've seen and heard and we talked about thus far. Um and
even in your presentation,
um and even from our
Um, and even from our own testimony, the 1 thing we haven't
heard about is enforce.
heard about is enforcement and changing Behavior writing
tickets how
tickets. How do we how do we
focus on that as well because
We like to get our message out. We like to give we like to
work with.
work with people. We like to educate people. We like to uh,
have a conversation with people.
as you mentioned we really weren't in the business of
pulling a cart, you know if we don't talk about
pulling a cart, you know, if we don't talk about Not Giving
not giving you know.
not giving you know giving a ticket not giving a ticket and
pull the cart. We still are just hopeful hopeful.
people will
Get the message.
get the message through through.
through
websites through so if I met commissioner, and I know you
said that you've been here 20 years.
said that you've been here 20 years, which I cannot believe
because you're so youthful looking.
um
David and I have been here.
David and I have been here probably in this role almost.
half that time.
I wasn't gonna say anything but I'm just gonna leave it at
that.
that, but I want to mention this.
but I want to say this and and I'll pose this to my
colleague and you know this as well.
you know hoping that people get
You know hoping that people get the message by pulling
their cart never changes behav.
their cart never changes Behavior. I don't think it's
changed behavior in your ward. I know it hasn't changed
Behavior.
behavior in mind because when people just dump everything
into the first available cart
And we take it.
No matter what you put back. The behavior is still going to
be there.
be there and I think that we see this issue with the
contamination, uh in Wards regardless.
contamination, uh in Wards regardless until we start
ticketing people until until we start saying this is
unacceptable for this.
item for this bin
um, so I
Um, so I don't want enforcement to be excluded.
Um, so I don't want enforcement to be excluded from this
conversation. I think it's very valuable.
conversation. I think it's very valuable for us knowing
that yes, you can go in with the warning.
You know, but at the end of the day.
You know, but at the end of the day to improve our numbers,
um we have to do.
um, we have to do something that either gets people's to
shake loose the cobwebs.
or do a different type of Rec
Or do a different type of recycling.
Um, so my with that in mind
Mr. Blakemore needs decaf
um
sing
Single stream recycling single stream recycling. Are you?
familiar with this?
Yes, what?
Yes what Chris is? Uh, yes. Chris is the expert on that.
Okay.
Okay, do we employ single stream recycling we do. Yeah Mo
most municipalities transition to single stream.
early 2000s, so
early 2000s. So so single stream recycling is where you
have.
have a single container to put all the recycling.
have a single container to put all the recycling to plastic
paper metal glass.
paper metal glass materials as opposed to a previous
system.
systems that separated out metals from glass from paper and
so on so forth. So where do we practice?
so on so forth. So where do we practice single stream
recycling it is
That is the basis of the blue car program the Mater.
that's collected. It gets processed processing facilities.
within the region.
so
thinking about how in our communities that
Thinking about how in our communities that are serviced by
the recycling program where you have a blue.
the recycling program where you have a blue cart and a
black cart in an alley.
Excuse me.
We have 2 car we have 2 garbage.
We have 2 car. We have 2 garbage can 2 garlic that will
come through that alley. Correct? 1 for blue 1 for black.
If we are practicing single stream.
If we are practicing single stream recycling.
What is the point of having?
What is the point of having 1 blue 1 black and 2 different?
trucks coming through that alley?
if it's single
If a single stream everything gets dumped together and
separated at the end.
separated at the end what sorry to clarify its what's get
mixed together.
mixed together is the recycling materials, right? It is not
mixed.
mixed with regular refuse. It's not mixed with other other
Mater.
materials. It's simply so this only for the recycle so
that's all for glass.
that's all for glass paper only for Metals. Yes only for
those Commodities that I had mention.
those Commodities that I had mentioned recycling type
Commodities. Yes. It's on its
Commodities. Yes. It's on it's on the picture on the top of
the can and the in the Triangle. That's that's where we're
at. The the mixed recycling you spoke.
at. The the mixed recycling. He spoke of earlier was much
more of what the blue bag system was.
more of what the blue bag system was where you would
separate material out, but then put it back and it would be
collect.
collected by a single truck. Okay.
is there any
Is there any move towards expanding that or?
Is there any move towards expanding that or envisioning
where?
Especially with everything that we're talking about.
Being able to separate that.
Being able to separate that at a off-site using only a
single.
single truck.
down the road
point of point of clarification actually on your question.
Are you asking?
Are you asking other and if
if there
If there are plans to have like 1 garbage can or people
through.
through waste and recyclables and then they could sort it.
Okay. I just want to clarification. I I think that way we
be going backwards. Um, just due to the fact that
Again, I'll say.
We pick up everything.
Um the 1
thing that we have to
Thing that we have to get better on that.
he puts on my
He puts on my desk. All the time is with the leaves.
The leaves just the leaves. So his folks that are picking
up the composting when people call 311 to go pick up the
leaves.
His folks are going out after they picked up the compost and
go pick.
go pick up the leaves. We're working with the labor force.
to get the leak. We took out big.
to get the leak. We took out big numbers.
better numbers
Better numbers last year for the leaves but with us picking
up.
picking up everything to get to that point of
So understood, so then to that end.
So understood, so then to that end then the opposite would
be the the next question is.
be the the next question is, you know, we talked about a
reference some of the West Coast.
reference some of the West Coast Recycling and you know
that I've brought this up to the department numerous.
that I've brought this up to the department numerous times
in my stay here right now.
Say for example in San Francisco They
Say for example in San Francisco. They have 3 pickups.
compost materials recyclable materials and then the
landfill materials
If All In 1 is not an option is it going to be a 3 a a a
a a trifecta of garbage trucks going through on our Ally
I'll never say no to anything. Um because we're always
going to look and take ideas again. I I I I say this and
he's heard this story more than once.
23 years ago
20 when I was looking at the blue bag.
20 when I was looking at the blue bag and they were going
no we got to get carts in every every and I'm looking at
the blue bags.
I said, how are they going to get?
a cart
to every 625 thousand households, and we're going to pick
it up.
And here we are today. So again.
And here we are today. So again with with uh,
planning 15 planning 15,000 trees with being put on tests
to plant 15,000.
to plant 15,000 trees the last 2 years and we're planting
20.
20,000 and 20 23,000 this past year.
20,000 and 20 23,000 this past year planted 43,000 trees
were normally we do.
were normally we do 6,000 so it all come from ideas and
and and folks that are in the audience here today and the
mayor's office to always tasks us with doing better and
mayor's office to always tasks us with doing better. And so
for for me to sit here and testify in front of the group,
and say, oh we can we're not going to do that. I'm not
going to say that we're we're always looking and anybody
throwing ideas at us, you know, if you would have told me
we were going to I was going to be able to say we trimmed
96,000 trees April 17.
96,000 trees April 17th within a year.
I threw it out there the last budget hearing and we we made
the goal.
the goal, but that was because of the support and the
resources that we needed to be able to achieve that goal.
So to sit here and ask me if if I like the way we're going
with the compost.
with the composting. I want to get it out to every Ward,
you know.
you know, just finding those facilities where we can put it
where it's not.
where it's not a mess and it's not a a hindrance because
people are you know, walking their dogs and and and putting
the the cleaning up after the dogs and I I want to try to
keep it as clean.
keep it as clean as possible because it is a positive.
Well, I think uh commissioner.
You've never been 1 not willing to think outside the box
and I appreciate that.
and I appreciate that especially when we talk about putting
trees gridding the trees and some of the other stuff that
we've discussed area.
we've discussed area atrum. I don't use the word grid. Oh,
yeah. That's right. Not a grid not a grid. I think that
back an area.
that
That just looks like our Wards, but that's all right. Um,
but I also just want to point out too that I think.
achieve these goals.
Chicago's going to need to have a fundamental switch when
it comes to its garbage.
the way that some of our other
competing cities are able to achieve those goals is because
they make charging for garbage.
and Rec
and recycling free
and that's how they also get people to buy in.
and that's how they also get people to buy in on reducing
the amount that goes into a garbage can going back.
the amount that goes into a garbage can going back to San
Francisco. Again, it's 38.
Francisco again. It's $38 a load.
for skinn
for a skinny car
to go into the garbage that a household has to pay.
the city of Chicago as you know, uh chairman in residential
areas that are part of that are not private.
There's no charge for garbage itself.
And I think that booked 950 well, but not for not for
garbage. It's the fee but it's not for garbage which is
going to point that out.
not for garbage
Um, I'm listening.
um and none of us like to actually talk about having to
create new.
fees or applications or things of that nature but
Fees or applications or things of that nature, but we do
know that private people pay for their garbage.
know that private people pay for their garbage and people
who get city garbage taken care of do not have to pay for
any kind of sticker.
any kind of sticker per bag like we see in the suburbs or
any kind of cart or load or whatever.
any kind of cart or load or whatever, but that's how many
municipalities have been able to actually change that
Dynamic where?
Dynamic where they're actually Recycling and composting
more and throwing out less. Um, and I think that
perhaps that would be also a good topic.
perhaps that would be also a good topic for a subject
matter hearing Madam chairman to discuss because when you
look at and I'm happy to share this with the committee,
look at and I'm happy to share this with the committee the
3
categories in San Francisco for example compost recycle
and landfill what is allowable? They're quite literally as
maybe 20 items that can go in a garbage garbage cart at
this point in that City.
the list for the other 2 are wide and immense and I think
personally as I'm looking at it if we're able to
collect compost like we do
Collect compost like we do or like we should yard waste.
um, I think there'd probably be a lot less objection to
Um, I think there'd probably be a lot less objection to that
because I know my concerns for compost are rats.
everything else that go with it in a neighborhood, but if
it's not staying long enough to be an issue, and we're able
to expand that reach with the the uh, tribunal of trucks.
coming through to come get them. I think we'd be able to
dramatically increase our numbers.
dramatically increase our numbers cross the board.
but uh, that'll
But uh, that'll take a larger conversation to see if we're
going to actually start charging.
going to actually start charging for garbage pickup
separate from
What we?
What we do for the pension costs so with that.
What we do for the pension costs so with that I thank you
commissioner. Look forward to seeing what else?
Uh we can do.
Uh, we can do to expand as my colleagues had commercial
recycling.
recycling, uh, and our intergovernmental recycling because
I think there's a lot of opportunities there as well as uh,
in the meantime, um, talk about
And I'll end on this um this.
and I'll end on this, um this construction and demolition
debris recycling ordinance, which I this is the first time
I'm hearing of it and I would hope that we can get uh a
full partnership to discuss this.
Um as well as the B.
um as well as the bane of our existence in Anglewood
Something that's inclusive of tire recycling as well.
I'm tired of picking up a thousand tires out of my ward a
year because we simply don't know how to recycle.
year because we simply don't know how to recycle them and
enforce that recycling at the commercial.
enforce that recycling at the commercial level.
Um, so I want to make sure that those items are on their
Um, so I want to make sure that those items are on there as
well so that we can make uh a more.
well so that we can make uh a more comprehensive and robust
ordinance moving forward. Thank you. Thank you.
I um I ordered them where I saw your hand pop up 1 more
time. I'm gonna pose a question. Um, and then we'll take
Alderman Moore's question as well. Um, I'm wondering and
this is kind of in the spirit of um the last
this is kind of in the spirit of um, the last line of
questioning around some of these kind of ideas and and what
our future is. I'm wondering if you could speak a little
bit to what grants, uh, maybe the department.
bit to what grants. Uh, maybe the department is seeking out
specifically in relation to kind of
seeking out specifically in relation to kind of our waste
management and you know from like the Federal
management and you know from like the federal level like
what what is what have you been working on?
So, uh EPA has had a couple.
So, uh EPA has had a couple of grant opportunities 1 last
year, uh,
year, uh for infrastructures for municipal recycling
operations. We did apply for uh a grant through that.
Unfortunately, we weren't selected uh for
Unfortunately, we weren't selected, uh for that Grant. Uh,
but we are working with the with Angela tovar's office in
the department of environment for a CCAP Grant.
the department of environment for a CCAP Grant which is
also EPA funded, uh, which would include uh funding for new
waste programming.
waste programming specifically for composting.
the climate action
Great. Thank you for that. Um, Alderman Moore.
I think this was brought up, um some years ago Commission.
before uh, you were commissioner, and I just
before, uh, you were commissioner and I just can't remember
the answer when we were at CH when I was at Cha, um,
uh, and we had the high rises out part of what we did was
um, give money to residents.
um, give money to Residents who um, you know recycle, I
mean they had a
mean, they had a line down stairs, you know, and it was
back in early 2000.
back in early 2000s. Um,
when we think about 80 million dollars over 3 years.
when we think about 80 million dollars over 3 years what
just what's your thoughts on that? And and it's
just what's your thoughts on that and and it's not whether
it's giving the money which we probably couldn't do that.
because you can't be lining up people okay me that.
because you can't be lining up people. Okay me that David
more more is Lord office and get your check, but some
more more is Lord office and get your check but some credit
or something, um, whether it's on the water bill because it
we got the garbage on the water.
we got the garbage on the water bill. Um, how what's your
thoughts on that? Just you know as we think about different
ideas because if somebody getting some money back,
ideas because if somebody getting some money back and as I
look at my bills, I'm like man if I got some I mean I threw
out and collected a ton.
out and collected a ton of plastic bottles from drinking.
I was trying to where can I get Lisa half?
I was trying to where can I get Lisa half a penny for you
know a bottle, you know, and
know a bottle, you know and nothing, you know, so.
What's your thoughts on that? Well, I can.
What's your thoughts on that? Well, I can remember being
about 10 years old.
and you take the bottles back and you got 10 cents a
bottle, but you're paying for
but you're paying for it, but that was just the way for
them to get it back.
Um, I I've mentioned that discussion.
before and I I think I ended up on the front page of a
newspaper talking about what way we're going to we're going
to do this. We're going to do that.
to do this we're going to do that, you know tax and all so
I again,
I again I I'll listen and we'll hear and we'll work
together.
together and uh try to implement strateg.
together and uh try to implement strategies to make things
better. Um, but for me to throw out any idea of taking or
giving of people's money away right now, um again, we'll
just continue. I mean heard Alderman Lopez's uh views loud
and clear hear your view.
and clear hear your views loud and clear and again, we're
we're open to hearing things and and just trying to get
that as you mentioned.
on the west if if if if if somebody really
On the west if if if if if somebody really and there's
things out there if you looked at San Francisco.
things out there if you looked at San Francisco, I'm sure
he was looking on his phone during this cut its
the information is there on what they do.
the information is there on what they do the enforcement
aspect of
enforcement aspect of of what they do for their recycling.
the cost.
the cost
the
it's a game changer, but it's
and if if I may offer so I'll say this larger.
and if if I may offer so I'll say this larger advisory
commission committee Council.
sir advisory Council that our commissioner sitting
Sir advisory Council that our commissioner sitting on when
I sat down with the beverage producers. Um
I sat down with the beverage producers, um granted there's
a many represent.
a many representatives. Um, uh in this group representing
ton of different producers, right? So it's not just about
bottles and cans but that was like the the most pressing
example that I could come up with.
example that I could come up with too of like, oh, you know
the the
know, the the return kind of piece 1 of the so I was asking
like, you know, is that a possibility of something to think
about at that broad state level?
about at that broad state level, um, and even Beyond
bottles and cans but I know in talking to some of our our
beverage manufacturing groups, especially when
about the Plastics so many of them have actually been
working, um to reclaim those Plastics to reuse them and
their own kind of M.
their own kind of materials recycling and as a matter of
fact, it's become a competitive thing of them trying to get
those plastic bottles.
Um because we're using plastic.
um because we're using plastic bottle, uh, uh recycled
plastic bottles to make blankets and pants and all kinds of
things. So there's all kinds of interesting.
things. So there's all kinds of interesting supply chain
kind of pieces that I think I like. I'm excited to hear of
like where we at the general consumer level. Where can we
incentivize right? Um people in create
Creating the supply stream that we need. I'm like could your
you know, uh, we talked about Pepsi.
you know, uh, we talked about Pepsi and Coke and like 1 of
my questions for them was, you know, they have different
setups for their bottling facilities.
setups for their bottling facilities, but you know, could
there be a situation where?
there be a situation where um consumers could have a drop
off space to get refunded so that we are incentivizing
keeping these things out of the land.
keeping these things out of the landfill getting them into
right like an appropri.
right like an appropriate supply chain piece and I think
that um, that's 1 of the things the state has tasked them
to think.
to think about um, and it has to also find ways to not
burden people. So like in the 1 of the things they told me
about the bottle deposit program was that it was difficult
because it really relied on small.
because it really relied on small stores, like right like
you could go to any store and they were participating and
right for your glass bottles.
right for your glass bottles, um, and logistically
replicating something like that.
replicating something like that would be very difficult.
But what's the 2.0?
But what's the 2.0 version? Right, right. So I think it's a
great idea.
think it's a great idea and then it it was the first thing
that popped in my
I had to and having that conversation about the Senate bill
that created this Council. So, um, I think there's some
exciting ideas on the horizon.
exciting ideas on the horizon and and the the
the group that I'm part of
I'm representing um over a million.
I'm representing um over a million household, uh, you know
over a million people so they have they have them from all
over the state they have
over the state. They have producers of it. They have
Commissioners they have so it's a you're getting a wide
variety of opin.
variety of opinion and thoughts on how to do this. So you
got a lot of got a lot of good Minds that are trying to um
come up and know that the state and the city we're we're
going to do better.
Um Alderman Lopez
Thank you again.
Thank you again chairman, actually while I'm sitting here I
had 2 different thoughts pop.
I had 2 different thoughts pop into my head 1 is
um in order to accomplish
a grander vision of recycling composting and landfill
diversion. We're going to need to also be able to create a
greater network of waste trans.
greater network of waste transfer stations and things of
that nature. Is that part of the conversation?
1 and 2 the vehicles that were going to
1 and 2 the vehicles that we're going to need as well to
accomplish something grander than what we have.
again, so so I I mentioned that because AIS or
Again, so so I I mentioned that because AIS or whatever they
call themselves. All right. Oh fleet Fleet.
call themselves. All right. Oh a fleet Fleet 2 FM. Are they
back to Fleet 2 FM back to 2 FM? Okay, um 2 FM will have to
actually start investing in a brand new Fleet for you as
well.
well or additional fleets expands.
well or additional fleets expansion. Um, and if we're
looking at the very real possibility
we're looking at the very real possibility of expanded
pickup,
Then we have to start making.
Then we have to start making sure that our recycling
effort. Uh
effort, uh is also uh carbon neutral.
effort, uh is also uh carbon neutral following a lot of the
discussion that we just had 9 hours ago.
discussion that we just had 9 hours ago last week on this
very topic. So are are those 2 components part of this
conversation?
conversation 100% um as a matter of fact for
composting we didn't want to send
a large garbage truck
running around the city, so
running around the city so we can show you the picture of
the the truck that we use its a pickup truck with a
mechanism.
mechanism on back and it's working. We're literally um,
and it's at a single man crew or is it it's a 2 Man Crew we
had I have a um
we have
8 pickup trucks
that are electric right now that we're trying out.
throughout. Uh 2 f
uh working with the commissioner Jewel
uh working with the commissioner Julie and and their team
where we we said we're willing to try an electric sweeper.
Um, so again, these are steps that we're trying.
Um, so again, these are steps that we're trying to take.
to do better
To do better, um and our vehicles I have.
To do better. Um and our vehicles I have I probably have in
our Fleet right now.
close to 50 electric vans
that are going out.
we ran them through the winter because
We ran them through the winter because we wanted to see how
it would work in the winter. We have pickup trucks we have.
some really nice pickup trucks. And so the the new thing
that they asked if we'd be willing to try was an electric
sweeper.
Let's try it. You know, let's let's let's get better. So
again, we're we're mindful of those.
again, we're we're mindful of those large trucks driving
all over the city. So through the through the process of
the 1 Grant.
the 1 grant that Chris mentioned.
part of it was
Part of it was with AIS saying.
Hey, if we get this we have to get 12, I think it was 12
vehicles.
Vehicles 12 Vehicles. We have to get 12 vehicles.
to uh
12 of the right vehicles too, um to try to make this happen
so and is that something that our those 4 Zones that are
operated by the contract that they will have to also adjust
to as well.
Right now we're talking we were talking about comp.
Right. Now we're talking we were talking about composting we
were talking about compost. Okay, but I'm just for like
comp but for recycling too I would imagine that you know, I
would imagine that the goal is to try and move towards.
I would imagine that the goal is to try and move towards a
more carbon neutral Fleet.
more carbon neutral Fleet at some point possible again, I'm
not gonna
Sit and talk about 1 company versus the next.
sit and talk about 1 company versus the next but I I think
I think I'm just saying whoever's.
I think I'm just saying whoever's contracted know I'm
saying that what our goal is too. It may come across wrong.
But what I'm saying is if you go to that if you come with
us on that day everybody's
us on that day, everybody's welcome to see the effort that
went into that that what that company has done.
went into that that what that company has done, uh to see
the the investment.
the the investment in the city to um divert this stuff.
It's it's pretty impressive. So I think everybody in the
industry
here's everybody loud and clear on how we
Here's everybody loud and clear on how we can get better
and and that's the goal. So when it comes back to and this
is my last point.
is my last Point, uh chairman also related to the 9-hour
meeting.
meeting 1 of the things that we also talked about was how
do we actually capture recycle and reuse some?
do we actually capture recycle and reuse some of the uh the
ways that we have and we 1 of the things that we talked
about were like the digest like we have in um, chadam if
I'm not mistaken,
Auburn groom. Thank you, and there's another 1 that we're
working.
working to bring online and Back of the Yards and others,
uh, specifically.
uh specifically for composting, correct. Um,
uh specifically for composting correct, um that this could
is this something that's also being discussed and incorpor.
Incorporated and are we looking at trying to build up the
digest or network for?
digest or network for lack of a better term throughout the
city of Chicago to make use of that and even possibly
monetize that for local use. We've been there we've been
I've been there with him 3.
I've been there with him 3 4 times, but if you haven't if
you haven't seen that.
you haven't seen that it's often sends the Digest.
another unbelievable
another step towards getting
but short answer building out that capacity for Organics,
whether it's a digest or composters is definitely part of
the conversation and planning for sure. Is that something
that the department?
that the department can look at doing itself or working
with 2 f
with 2 FM to try to create I know that 2 FM actually leased
space down in southern Tim.
space down in southern Timbuktu, Illinois for
something to make renewable energy down there solar panels
or something is
or something. Is that something that we could do in the
city of Chicago? Create a
city of Chicago create a a digest or network operated by
streets and sanitation.
streets and sanitation and 2 FM so that we're not shipping
compost.
compost out. We're actually keeping it here letting it run.
its course and then being able to provide whatever.
its course and then being able to provide whatever energy
or whatever to our own residents. So so part of the the
grant that I mentioned that we worked, uh,
grant that I mentioned that we worked, uh with Department
of environment Angela tovar's office with
Included uh looking at specific.
Included, uh looking at specifically digesters in this
space.
meaning the Chicago and Chicago area.
meaning the Chicago and Chicago area, uh to try to find
funding to help stimulate that market so short answer is
yes. It's part of the planning that we've been a part of I
think specifically with our operations because we are so
collection focused. That's really where we put most of our
uh, day-to-day.
uh, day-to-day work in terms of like planning and and uh
forecasting where we need to go electric electric.
forecasting where we need to go Electric electrical. I know
electrification. Yes.
electrification. Yes, uh of fleets is something that's
happening everywhere, right?
happening everywhere. Right? Like, you know, it's not just
in the personal marketplace with cars.
in the personal marketplace with cars, but it's happening
in the waste industry as well. So we are looking at those.
possibilities, uh sensitive to to know that we you know
when you're talking about purchasing a vehicle.
when you're talking about purchasing a vehicle collection
vehicle with garbage truck. It's a it's a healthy.
proposition. Those are expensive items to purchase. So we
want to get ones that would obviously work for what we need
them to work.
them to work for.
well, I'd love to uh
Well, I'd like I'd love to uh, either have this as a more
robust public conversation.
robust public conversation or speak with you guys online
offline about it. Excuse me.
offline about it. Excuse me, uh, we have 1 in my ward, um
that uh at the plant which is part of a closed loop system,
which I'm sure you are all aware of um, but I think
the benefits publicly even regionally even if you had 1 per
Zone could be a game changer for the amount of waste that
does not make it to a landfill and it actually
provides some benefit to the city of Chicago also, so,
thank you.
Thank you. Um, I want to thank you all for your questions.
Uh, thank you Alderman Moore for bringing this conversation
up. Um,
up, um to the committee. I want to thank the commissioner
and Deputy Commissioner.
and Deputy Commissioner, um for um, all of your hard work,
365 days a year, and of course for the time that you uh,
spent with us today and look forward to continuing this
conversation. I know we have some exciting things on the
horizon in the coming years, um with your department as we
look towards, uh going Beyond recycling. Um, so
um with their being
Um with there being no further business before the
committee. May I have a motion to adjourn? All right
Alderman Lopez, I know.
Alderman Lopez. I know we're we're developing a pattern
with me here.
with me here ottoman Lopez so moves hearing no objections,
so
So ordered the meeting on the committee on Environmental
Protection and energy is now adjourned. Thank you very
much.