The smell of a garbage truck rolling down the street is sure to turn heads, which could lead to extra funds for the Los Angeles Council, as the placement of ads on the sides of city-owned garbage trucks could rake in much-needed revenues. The city’s Board of Public Works recently approved a pilot program that would basically turn 500 trucks into mobile billboards. But will there be interest in advertising on the side of a garbage truck? It’s not exactly among the more glamorous options. Officials in favor of the idea hope that it can generate as much funds as advertisements on MTA buses, which provides $30 million annually. The LA Daily News reports:
“Revenue generated from trash-truck ads would go into the Sanitation Bureau's Solid Waste Resources Fund, which is used to purchase the vehicles. This represents the first effort to have advertising on city vehicles, although officials said the idea could be replicated on DASH buses and in public parks. The city has faced multimillion-dollar shortfalls for each of the past four years, resulting in a reduction in the city workforce of more than 4,000 employees and cuts in services.”
Officials plan to examine whether some truck routes should cost more than others for advertising. If the program is successful, then the use of advertising opportunities may be expanded to further generate revenue. Richard Wozniak, a manager in the Sanitation Bureau, commented that “We realize that we have to get beyond the stigma that this is a trash truck. We have tried this in the past, but never were able to get much of a response from the industry. We are hopeful this time will work.”
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