(WTTW News)

WTTW News saw private garbage hauler Groot making four separate pickups before 7 a.m. last week. It’s not just a nuisance — it’s illegal. Under Chicago’s noise ordinance, trash haulers are banned from work between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

A Chicago snowplow is pictured in a file photo. (WTTW News)

Chicago has announced the winners in its “name that snowplow” contest. Did your favorite make the cut?

(City of Chicago)
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The Department of Streets and Sanitation has announced the 50 finalists in the contest. Voting is open to Chicago residents through Jan. 31.

(Lisa Fotios / Pexels)

Live trees — well, not so live anymore — can be recycled at any one of 26 citywide locations, Jan. 7-21.

(City of Chicago)

Chicago has launched a contest to name six of its snowplows — one for each snow district — and the competition promises to be fierce.

(WTTW News)

Starting Dec. 1, Chicago’s overnight parking ban takes effect on 107 miles of streets, snow or no snow, from 3-7 a.m. daily through April 1.

(Arvell Dorsey Jr. / Flickr)

The city’s street sweeping program kicks off April 1, which also means the return of “no parking” restrictions.

Times up on dibs. Streets and San will start clearing items on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

On Friday, the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation will begin clearing away any dibs objects still left on the streets, so move ‘em or lose ‘em.

Time to dig out from the Groundhog Day snowstorm, Feb. 2, 2022. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Chicago is digging out from a wild Wednesday that saw continuous snowfall throughout the day, dumping anywhere from 5.6 inches at O'Hare to 11 inches at Midway. That looks to be the end of active weather, for now. 

(Patty Wetli / WTTW)

Every year, the start of the snow route ban catches hundreds of drivers unaware, forcing them to travel to the city’s auto pound — and pay at least $235 — to retrieve their cars, officials said.

Several communities have raised funds to treat their neighborhood ash trees. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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During Thursday’s City Council meeting, alderpeople introduced a resolution calling for the Department of Streets and Sanitation to reinstate treatment of the city’s remaining parkway ash trees — numbering close to 50,000 — and also develop a systematic program for removing and replacing infested trees.

(WTTW News)
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Plans are underway to keep organic waste out of Chicago's landfills, officials said.

Chicago’s Office of Inspector General continues to monitor the city’s weed-clearing practices for vacant lots. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

A year after being taken to task by the city’s Office of Inspector General for inefficient weed-clearing practices, the Department of Streets and Sanitation has made some improvements but still has work to do, according to a follow-up report released last week.

Chicago’s black and blue carts have been the city’s waste management workhorses. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Chicago generates more than 4 million tons of material waste annually. A new, highly anticipated report recommends a number of strategies aimed at keeping more of that trash out of landfills.

The city will begin hauling away dibs placeholders on March 2. (WTTW News)

It’s time to get those chairs, buckets and frozen pants out of the street. The unofficial grace period for the unofficial practice of dibs is officially over March 2, according to the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation.

Keep an eye on roofs this weekend as snow begins to melt. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

First came the big chill, then the big dig, and now officials are warning Chicagoans to prepare for the big melt. With temperatures on the rise, the snow that’s accumulated over the past three weeks is about to turn into a river.