Inspector General Questions Free Garbage Service For Some Non-Profits

(CBS) -- Chicago's inspector general is raising questions about which buildings and organizations receive free city trash pickup and which should get it, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

The city of Chicago currently provides free garbage service to many not-for-profit groups and institutions, but Inspector General Joseph Ferguson says there is nothing in the law that allows that and if aldermen do want to provide trash collections for non-profits, Ferguson's office recommends they use similar guidelines for free water service. After all, a hospital with a multimillion dollar endowment doesn't need a break.

"Those that are smaller, those that are providing a unique service that might really be up against it if they start paying for these city services, those we would look at a little bit differently," said Ferguson.

Ferguson says free trash pickup for non-profits and grandfathered multiunit dwellings cost more than $6 million a year.