Inside the process to get a new garbage can in Chicago - Axios ChicagoLog InLog InAxios Chicago is an Axios company.

Monica finally got her garbage can

Photo: Monica Eng/Axios Hey, it's Monica. I finally got my new garbage bin last week — 37 days after I requested it. Why it matters: I was sick of seeing rats jumping into the lid-less cart, but ordering a new one tested city services' speed and efficiency. State of play: I first requested the can on Aug. 1 by dialing 311. On Aug 23, I got an email that read "estimated completion time is 30 days" — like it was the first day I'd requested it. So it's unclear whether the city counts my experience as taking longer than expected. What they're saying: "Our Streets & Sanitation supervisor does have a very limited number of carts to distribute for emergencies (such as a property having no carts whatsoever) but generally it can take a few weeks to get new carts," 44th Ward rep Calvin Cottrell tells me. What's next: To avoid having my carts damaged again, I'm thinking of keeping them in my garage until garbage day. Streets and San officials tell us, "Residents are encouraged to keep their black and blue carts in the alley, when available, so they are accessible for the sanitation trucks."I'm also calling 311 to ask why they didn't take away the broken cart. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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