Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-225
Duty to provide compactors (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
It shall be the duty of the owner or occupant of an occupational unit and the owner of a multiple dwelling with five or more dwelling units with a waste generation of 50 cubic yards recyclable material collected as part of a recycling program, such as recyclable material collected in accordance with Chapter 11-5 , to provide or contract for a refuse compactor and collection service with a minimum of once per week collection, except that a compactor shall not be required (i) when there is no suitable location on private property, or (ii) for multiple dwellings with five or more dwelling units that are only accessible by use of a private driveway, or (iii) if the occupational unit or multiple dwelling receives refuse collection service a minimum of five times per week. If the department of streets and sanitation determines there is a suitable location on the property, but the owner or his agent does not wish to use the space for the compactor, a permit for use of the public way shall be required. If the department of streets and sanitation determines that a compactor may not be placed in the public way, the compactor must be placed on the suitable location on private property. The commissioner of streets and sanitation shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations regarding the definition of suitable location and regarding the exclusion of commingled recyclables from the 50 cubic yard weekly refuse amount. (Added Coun. J. 7-7-99, p. 6985; Amend Coun. J. 10-3-01, p. 68141, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 2) Editor's note - The provisions of this section were effective July 7, 2000.
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-225, owners of multiple dwellings with five or more units—and occupants of occupational units—that generate 50 or more cubic yards of recyclable material per week are generally required to provide or arrange for a refuse compactor with at least weekly collection service. Three exceptions exist: when no suitable private-property location is available, when the building is only accessible by private driveway, or when refuse is already collected at least five times per week. The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation has authority to determine whether a suitable location exists and may require a public-way permit if the owner declines to use available private space.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-225 generally ensure that qualifying buildings—those with five or more dwelling units generating 50 or more cubic yards of recyclables weekly—are served by a refuse compactor with at least once-per-week collection, either by providing one directly or through a service contract. Compliant operators document whether any of the three statutory exceptions apply to their property and keep records of collection frequency in case the Department of Streets and Sanitation reviews the site. When the department identifies a suitable on-site location, operators typically either designate that space for the compactor or obtain the required public-way permit if they prefer not to use private property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Chicago buildings with five or more units can look to Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-225 to understand whether their building's owner is obligated to provide compactor and collection services for recyclable waste. If a building appears to meet the threshold—50 or more cubic yards of recyclables per week—and no recognized exception applies, tenants may consider raising the absence of required services as a concern with the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, which oversees compliance with this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help residents understand whether this rule applies to their building and what general options exist for addressing potential non-compliance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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