GF Blue logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Chicago Saving $7M By Reducing Refuse Fleet

The City of Chicago plans to eliminate 18 garbage trucks in a fleet reduction plan expected to increase waste-collection efficiency and save the city $7 million.

by Staff
September 9, 2015
Chicago Saving $7M By Reducing Refuse Fleet

Photo: Arvell Dorsey Jr. / Flickr

1 min to read


Photo: Arvell Dorsey Jr. / Flickr

The City of Chicago plans to eliminate 18 garbage trucks in a fleet reduction plan expected to increase waste-collection efficiency and save the city $7 million, according to Waste Dive.

The reduction follows an audit conducted by Inspector General Joe Ferguson that found there was not enough work to be done for the amount of trucks deployed each day. The fleet's vehicle count would fall to 292 from 301.

Ad Loading...

City sanitation workers were finishing their routes in three hours but being allotted five, resulting in two hours of excess spending for the city.

This reduction comes on the heels of a recent shift from a ward-to-ward waste collection system within the city over to a grid system that resulted in $28 million in operating cost reductions that were redirected to other Department of Streets and Sanitation services by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Mayor Emanuel also plans to impose a garbage collection fee on Chicago residents that, if passed, would cost homeowners up to $12 a month.

More Operations

A story graphic with data and cars.
Operations•by Nichole Osinski•October 1, 2026

Can Public Fleets Trust the Data Driving Their Decisions?

Public fleets have more data than ever, but inconsistent records and missing information can still undermine maintenance, replacement, and cost decisions.

Read More →
a technician working with a text overlay that says Building Talent From Within
Operations•by Jeanny Abraham•September 29, 2026

How Phoenix Is Building Its Next Generation of Fleet Technicians

With more than 8,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment to maintain, the City of Phoenix could not afford to wait for fully trained technicians to walk through the door. Instead, they revamped their entire workforce strategy and showed how public fleets can create their own talent pipeline while preparing existing employees for increasingly complex vehicles.

Read More →
John Deere 40 P-Tier Compact Excavator
Operations•September 28, 2026

John Deere Introduces 40 P-Tier Compact Excavator

John Deere is adding a compact excavator designed for crews that need to move equipment between jobsites and handle multiple types of work with one machine. The 40 P-Tier weighs less than 10,000 pounds and offers configurable hydraulics, attachment options, and connected fleet-management capabilities.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A cheat sheet thumbnail with images of a checklist and fleet image.
Operations•September 25, 2026

How Leading Fleets Improve and Why Business Plans Matter

This week, we look at what past Leading Fleet winners can teach us about making progress, plus how to build a business plan your fleet will actually use.

Read More →
hall of fame logo with award
Operations•by Staff Writer•September 25, 2026

Nominate a Fleet Leader for the 2027 Public Fleet Hall of Fame

Do you know a fleet leader who has made a lasting impact on the industry? Nominate this fleet professional for the 2027 Public Fleet Hall of Fame.

Read More →
A youtube graphic with fleet images.
Operations•September 23, 2026

Why Fleet Business Plans Need Three Perspectives

A fleet business plan should help agency leaders understand the fleet’s value, give the organization a clear direction, and establish shared expectations with customer departments.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A graphic with a checklist and cars.
Operations•September 18, 2026

How Oil Analysis, Safety Technology, and Fleet Awards Drive Improvement

What happens when fleets let measured results guide their next decision?

Read More →
a youtube thumbnail showing mechanics and the text cheat sheet.
Operations•September 11, 2026

Emergency Response, Fleet Sales and New Technology

This week’s fleet news covers emergency preparedness, shifting vehicle sales, electric truck investments, and new tools for monitoring road conditions.

Read More →
NCDOT logo with NC backgroundf
Operations•by Staff and News Reports•September 8, 2026

NCDOT Adds Dash Cam Imagery to Statewide Traffic Monitoring

North Carolina transportation officials are adding another set of eyes to roads that aren't covered by fixed traffic cameras. A statewide deployment gives NCDOT access to on-vehicle imagery to verify conditions during work zones, severe weather, emergencies, and other traffic events.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Tallahassee Police Fleet Innovator
Operations•by Jeanny Abraham•September 7, 2026

Turning a Bottleneck Into a Blueprint: How Tallahassee Rethought Police Fleet Readiness

For Tallahassee, finally receiving 87 delayed police cruisers created a new problem: how to get them on the road without creating a massive backlog. The solution would change more than the upfit process.

Read More →