OIG Advisory Regarding Disposal Of Non-Hazardous Waste

Executive Summary

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General has completed an investigation identifying inadequacies in the monitoring and enforcement of waste disposal during City construction projects.

The investigation revealed that in September 2012 two different companies violated the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC) and their City contracts by disposing of milled asphalt from City projects at improper dump locations. Additionally, in one of the situations we reviewed, the contract project manager was completely unaware that such dumping is regulated by law and contract. Although multiple City departments were aware of the improper dumping, no department took action to stop it or to ensure that future disposal would comport with legal and contract requirements. Our inquiry revealed that no City department takes primary ownership and responsibility for enforcing the law or the contract provisions regarding the disposal of nonhazardous waste.