Search Website
Search by Keyword:

 
Event Calendar

Recent News
Street & Sanitation

Garbage Removal


The City of Chicago is responsible for garbage removal for residents that live in a single-family home or a building of 4 units or less.  Residents that do not qualify for city services are required to have a private hauling service but are entitled to a Refuse Rebate.


 


Garbage is removed by the city once a week. While the Department of Streets and Sanitation will attempt to remove garbage on the same day every week on occasion inclement weather, a temporary shortage of city workers, or other unexpected circumstances may cause pick up to be held on a different day. To find which day garbage is picked up on your block visit.


 


 


Street Cleaning


 


Clean streets are an important part of a safe and enjoyable neighborhood. In order to keep our streets clean the Department of Streets and Sanitation will run street sweepers down every block in the 6th ward twice a month. This service begins on April 1st and will continue until November 30th, weather permitting.


When cars are parked on the street during this service some areas cannot be swept. To avoid an interruption in service, colored Street Sweeping signs are posted on your block notifying you in advance of a street sweeping day. To avoid parking tickets, the streets scheduled to be swept should remain clear of vehicles between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on the day posted.


To find out which day Street Sweeping will take place on your block you can visit the Street Sweeping Schedule (PUT LINK TO STREET SWEEPING SCHEDULE)


In some cases, a small section of your block may need special attention. Please feel free to contact our office or the 6th Ward Streets and Sanitation office directly at (312) 744-4558 to request a special street cleaning service. 


Ward Yard


 


Each of Chicago’s 50 wards has a local Streets and Sanitation office. This office is responsible for Garbage Removal, Street Cleaning, Sanitation Inspections, and addressing specific sanitation problem that may arise in the ward. Feel free to contact this office or its Supervisor directly with any sanitation questions or requests.


 


Bulk Pickups


The City of Chicago no longer provides request based bulk pick ups. If you have large items that do not fit in your garbage carts please organize them next to your carts in a manner that will not block vehicles traveling down the alley. The Department of Streets and Sanitation will pick up these items with your refuse on your regularly scheduled pick up day. Please note: The Department of Streets and Sanitation will not pick up construction debris.


 


Recycling


The City is currently transitioning to a full separate collection system for recycling and yard waste for all residential buildings of four units or less. This Blue Cart Program began with a pilot program in select neighborhoods in 2006. Due to the success of the pilot program the service is being slowly expanded to other neighborhoods across the city and will be available city-wide by 2011.


In the meantime if you wish to recycle your refuse you can visit any of the City of Chicago’s Recycling Drop Off Centers. For more information on the Recycling Drop-off Centers including locations, click here.


 


Graffiti


Graffiti is vandalism, it scars the community, hurts property values and diminishes our quality of life. The City of Chicago through their Graffiti Blasters program will remove graffiti using "blast" trucks or paint crews.


Graffiti Blasters employs 13 "blast" trucks that use baking soda under high water pressure to erase painted graffiti from brick, stone and other mineral surfaces. The program also use 14 paint trucks to cover graffiti on the remaining surfaces.


As with many of the City's anti-crime and beautification programs, we depend on community groups, block clubs, chambers of commerce and individual residents to reach out to us to report graffiti. If a cleaned building is struck again, the City will make every effort to return and remove the new graffiti quickly.


If you see graffiti, take steps to remove it. Report graffiti either by using the City of Chicago's 311-City Services or by calling the 6th Ward office at (773) 846-7006.


To place a graffiti removal request, please be prepared to report the following items:


·       The surface, i.e. brick, concrete, etc.


·       The height of the graffiti from the ground


·       The exact address or location of graffiti