Stop selling short innovation: Trump the dump with kerb verve
‘‘In Beverly Hills . . . they don’t throw their garbage away. They make it into television shows.’’
Woody Allen PSST. Psst. Oi! Over here. Is that you, Cam? What did I tell you? No names. But yours is right here on the page. Right beside that photo.
Shut it, S1. Let’s just say I represent certain parties who have an interest in the outcome of your race. Not who wins, mind, just what happens after the council gets down to brass tacks.
When I dreamed up this gathering, I had intended to deliver you victory with three words: hard rubbish collection.
K, you kind of stole my thunder when you publicly trumpeted your interest in the concept and the beancounters have since done their best to ground the vision before it got airborne by pointing out the cost of implementation.
But I think we all know that costings in any level of government are more fluid concepts than set in stone. ( Can anyone say desal plant?)
But I am nothing if not accommodating. I’ve come up with an alternative vision, one that taps into not only the inherent wish of people to do their bit for the planet through recycling, but also gives a nod to the need to go after the tourism dollar sidewalk sales.
Think about it. What if every Melbourne Cup Day it’s not just the retailers putting their wares out on the footpaths but households, too?
Then it’s not just the shoppers, but the recyclers, the secondhand dealers, the retro design fanatics and the ‘‘pickers’’ who have the date circled on their calendars and make the annual pilgrimage down the freeway. If you dump it, they will come. Bring it to fruition and you’ll win in a landslide. That’s got to be better than landfill any day.