November 13, 2009

City eyes trash can advertising

To raise revenue, the city is exploring the idea of putting advertising on the side of residential trash bins.

They’d be like “mini-billboards” on both sides of the wheeled receptacles the city distributes to residents to toss their trash.

The idea, which a public works committee is looking into, hasn’t been fully explored and hasn’t received the blessing of any public officials. It remains unclear how much money could be generated if the city were to try to sell advertising space on garbage cans.

“We don’t have all the details on this,” Mayor Art Ward said Friday.

The committee exploring the concept is eyeing the possibility of selling advertising space on both sides of the rubbish collection barrels that have been distributed throughout the city for use with the automated trash trucks.

The Miscellaneous Matters Committee of the Public Works Board said it would like to hear particulars about the proposal before considering whether to proceed with it or not. Its recommendation would be sent to the public works panel.

While many cities around the country have sold advertising space on public waste barrels on downtown streets, the idea of selling advertising space on residential barrels is at least unusual.

Ward said the city agreed to investigate the concept after someone suggested the idea.

He said that officials “entertain ideas and suggestions from the public” and unless they’re way out there, they take seriously the responsibility to check into the proposals.

People need to know, he said, that if they come forward with concepts, city leaders will treat them respectfully and that the proposals “will be looked into and scrutinized” to see if the city can benefit from trying it.

“People have to understand that these are ideas that come forth” and that first-line subcommittees exist to consider them, the mayor said.

That an idea is explored doesn’t mean anything will ever come of it, Ward said.

“We’re not going to make a decision until we have all the details,” the mayor said.

At this point, he said, the committee is waiting for more information. He said he doesn’t when, or if, any more information will be offered by anyone.

The city is facing a fiscal crunch that has officials eyeing any proposals that could bring in revenue without socking taxpayers.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

tacky..must be Block-heads idea.

Anonymous said...

IN BRISTOL ANYTHING GOES.

Anonymous said...

START THE CUT BACKS AND WE WILL SAVE.

Anonymous said...

Ward has put us on a slippery slope.

Anonymous said...

THE POLITIANS THE NEXT ELECTION COULD SPEND MONEY FOR A GOOD CAUSE. JUST THINK MILLS FOR MAYOR ON YOUR CAN. BETTER YET MAD DOG IS COMING BACK AND WATCH OUT UNION BOYS.

Anonymous said...

8:46, Ward hasn't put us there. You're the one obsessed with the "slippery slope." Why don't you put on some skis and enjoy the ride. The rest of us are moving forward.

Anonymous said...

Ward had 14 years on the council and screwed up the PWKS budget, big time.
He was deputy mayor under Gerry and participated in the secret Mall meetings.
He supported Rosenthal who is costing us big time.
He was given a heads up to the impending fiscal situation and has don NOTHING.

We ARE on a slippery slope.

Anonymous said...

8:49, You are certainly entitled to your opinion, no matter how jaundiced. I'm also entitled to mine. It is my opinion that you sound a lot like one of our disgruntled local politicians who has an axe to grind.

Anonymous said...

THE UNION BOYS COULD BE PUT TO WORK DOING THE PAITING OF THE ADDS.

Anonymous said...

9:54

I am not one of the local politicians, but I do have an ax to grind, which is the fact that he city is going backwards, and It will be costing me.

Can you refute the other comments, or are you just avoiding the real issues?

Sonner or later we will have to address them.

Anonymous said...

MILLS IS SO FULL OF HIMSELF HES PROBABLY GOING TO BUY THE RIGHTS TO ALL THE CANS.

Anonymous said...

Art will take care of the unions for his next two years then get out and cost the tax payer alot of money don`t let him fool you.

Anonymous said...

what happens if we don't want the advertisements on our cans? What happens if we only put it out once a month? Who will pay to have some one come by and place the adds on the cans? This mean another job to fill and pay for? How about if we don't support what the add is for. Sounds like people didn't think prior to throwing this idea out or this is thee way to get public feed back.

Anonymous said...

How does relate to the Ordinance that prohibits commercial adverting in redidential areas?

mommie dearest said...

1:33 - don't wet your pampers fretting over this - it is only an idea.
If you had any positive energy, you might want to contact Pampers to see if you could act as their agent for the ad program - your commission could be a swap for clean versus soiled butt-wear.

Anonymous said...

What are we coming to????

Next we will hang advertisements in the council Chambers!

Anonymous said...

1:30

I can see it all now: the council will have one ofthose rollover ad things like they do behnd the catcher at the baseball stadium, and would change with every speaker.

WOW, what possibilities.
Maybe we can eliminate taxes all together.

And then we can make a televised comedy show of Bristol.

under study flunks said...

11:52 - apply for a cameo appearance 'cause u ain't never gonna b a star.