Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy meeting, April 10, 2024
- When: Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 12:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/932973530
- Transcript: full text (13,947 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy held a subject matter hearing, requested by Alderperson David H. Moore, on the Department of Streets and Sanitation's recycling programs and services; no votes were taken on legislation. Two public commenters called for better recycling, public education and landfill diversion, noting Chicago's recycling rate of about 9 to 10 percent. Commissioner Cole Stallard and Deputy Commissioner Chris Sauve described the new food scrap drop-off program, outreach efforts, a new hauler reporting portal, liquidated damages in the Lakeshore Recycling Systems contract, and pending state extended producer responsibility legislation. Members asked about the LRS contract and reporting, commercial and construction waste, single-use plastics, enforcement against contamination, multiple-stream collection, garbage fees, deposit incentives, fleet electrification and anaerobic digesters, and Alderperson David H. Moore said it was disappointing that no LRS representative attended.
Topics: recycling program, food scrap composting, Lakeshore Recycling Systems contract, extended producer responsibility, commercial waste diversion, recycling enforcement, fleet electrification, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 9:45 Public comment: discussed
- 15:45 Subject matter hearing on Department of Streets and Sanitation recycling programs and services: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Maria E. Hadden (chair): Introduced the hearing, noting the 2021 city waste strategy identified 12 priority areas including the first citywide composting program. (15:45); Said she had met with beverage associations about the state advisory council and wants the committee to hear its findings. (46:15); Asked what federal grants the department is pursuing for waste management. (1:00:30)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked for an update on funding for a curbside composting pilot and on construction and demolition debris recycling, citing an inspector general estimate. (21:55)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Said he requested the hearing and invited LRS, and called it disappointing and unacceptable that no LRS representative attended given the size of its contract. (24:52); Asked the value and term of the LRS contract. (25:45); Asked for details on other bidders, citing concerns about contractors underbidding and then underperforming. (26:39)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Said his family uses the food scrap program and asked whether there is a breakdown of commercial versus residential waste diversion. (37:45); Said the data makes him want to revisit the waste franchising conversation and asked how other cities encourage commercial composting. (39:51); Asked about next steps on reducing single-use plastics and polystyrene, including at municipal facilities. (43:58)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Asked for private hauler compliance by zone and contamination and enforcement data by ward. (47:27); Said enforcement through ticketing is missing from the discussion and that pulling carts has not changed behavior. (48:12); Asked why two trucks serve each alley under single-stream recycling and whether a three-stream system like San Francisco's is being considered. (50:27)
Exchanges between members
- 24:42 Alderperson David H. Moore thanked Chair Maria E. Hadden for holding the hearing.
- 47:09 Alderperson Daniel La Spata thanked the chair for holding the hearing.
- 49:04 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez noted that he and Alderperson David H. Moore have served about a decade and that cart pulling has not changed behavior in either ward.
- 58:21 Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez suggested to the chair a subject matter hearing on garbage fees.
- 1:14:56 Chair Maria E. Hadden thanked Alderperson David H. Moore for bringing the conversation to the committee.