Multipliers for less urban areas may be influenced -especially in public spending- by reliance on out-of-town (i.e. big city) vendors (consultants, contracted services, whatever) for functions that *could* be performed by locals (even small private enterprises). I made this point a number of years ago when Columbus was moving into curbside recycling, contrasting the consequent flow of funds, eg "one-and-done" vs 'stickier' money cycling.
Waste Management, Rumpke (operates county landfill for 30 years and running!) and other vendors make for quick, easy, "no muss, no fuss" choices but so much of the contract $ flows immediately out of town to Cincinnati, Indianapolis, etc instead of cycling here for a couple of rounds. So, local govt -unwittingly- plays a not insignificant role in hollowing out less urban economies.
Feb 3, 2022·edited Feb 3, 2022Liked by Michael J. Hicks
(Further) pockets are easier picked in less-sophisticated areas. The fed $ to extend broadband into rural areas are being expertly looted from local officials who received them. $100/mo for gigabit service? Gimme a break. What a scramble to suck up those dollars.
Back to recycling: local officials are mesmerized into thinking that's a capital intensive endeavor to collect. So, they buy $187,000 compacting/hydraulic trucks to collect unsorted (contaminated, no value recyclables) in single-stream manner. An entrepreneur would insist on only picking up valuable stuff and if not adequately sorted at curb, would likely leave it there. No need for a fancy new truck purchased w tax money from out-of-town equipment dealer (innovative vehicle design s/b encouraged) -- and multiple vendors could be granted exclusive service areas. If the market value is too volatile or low, the city can ensure a fair price. Back of envelope calcs suggested a two-person team could work 3-4 hours daily (enabling easy scaling as volume rises) and get *each* ~$28/hr from value of collections. No glass; only aluminum, plastics and cardboard.
Reward local intelligence & initiative rather than hand money over to "outside experts" who could care less. NB: Cummins donated a 6-sigma acolyte (formerly municipal utility mgr from central FL) who laid groundwork for ineffective outsource solution. City pays $16+/hr plus benefits for each of two-man crew to collect single-stream recycling refuse in expensive trucks. Similar for separate cardboard collecting from businesses.
Great point. Smaller places will have fewer suppliers, and will attract fewer residents. My data cannot make clear these granular details, so I value these o serrations.
Multipliers for less urban areas may be influenced -especially in public spending- by reliance on out-of-town (i.e. big city) vendors (consultants, contracted services, whatever) for functions that *could* be performed by locals (even small private enterprises). I made this point a number of years ago when Columbus was moving into curbside recycling, contrasting the consequent flow of funds, eg "one-and-done" vs 'stickier' money cycling.
Waste Management, Rumpke (operates county landfill for 30 years and running!) and other vendors make for quick, easy, "no muss, no fuss" choices but so much of the contract $ flows immediately out of town to Cincinnati, Indianapolis, etc instead of cycling here for a couple of rounds. So, local govt -unwittingly- plays a not insignificant role in hollowing out less urban economies.
(Further) pockets are easier picked in less-sophisticated areas. The fed $ to extend broadband into rural areas are being expertly looted from local officials who received them. $100/mo for gigabit service? Gimme a break. What a scramble to suck up those dollars.
Back to recycling: local officials are mesmerized into thinking that's a capital intensive endeavor to collect. So, they buy $187,000 compacting/hydraulic trucks to collect unsorted (contaminated, no value recyclables) in single-stream manner. An entrepreneur would insist on only picking up valuable stuff and if not adequately sorted at curb, would likely leave it there. No need for a fancy new truck purchased w tax money from out-of-town equipment dealer (innovative vehicle design s/b encouraged) -- and multiple vendors could be granted exclusive service areas. If the market value is too volatile or low, the city can ensure a fair price. Back of envelope calcs suggested a two-person team could work 3-4 hours daily (enabling easy scaling as volume rises) and get *each* ~$28/hr from value of collections. No glass; only aluminum, plastics and cardboard.
Reward local intelligence & initiative rather than hand money over to "outside experts" who could care less. NB: Cummins donated a 6-sigma acolyte (formerly municipal utility mgr from central FL) who laid groundwork for ineffective outsource solution. City pays $16+/hr plus benefits for each of two-man crew to collect single-stream recycling refuse in expensive trucks. Similar for separate cardboard collecting from businesses.
(Sluggo was my cat's name. Didn't realize it would show up as my ID here in Substack. I'll look into changing it to a recognizable name.)
Sluggo is good!
Great point. Smaller places will have fewer suppliers, and will attract fewer residents. My data cannot make clear these granular details, so I value these o serrations.