From our hefty file of ‘unintended consequences’ now which keeps tabs on the unexpected outcomes of seemingly sensible public policies which this week reveals the story of a bright new industry springing up out of the simple system of recycling.
Her Majesty’s jurisdictions of NSW and the ACT have each embraced the planet-saving practice of refunding containers such as bottles and cans recently offering cash payments if they’re returned to recycling depots from where they are used again.
A feature of each scheme is that the refunds on containers found in household recycling bins and not returned to the depots is shared between the Government and service provider, prompting imaginative business people to launch the new industry of bin-raiding.
And if an observation of the raiders at work in Sydney recently is any guide, it’s a lucrative and well-organised enterprise with big trucks, fast-running raiders and quick dollars to be made.
Full head of STEM
To what may become known as ‘school wars’ now as librarians, literati and linguists point their poignant pens at the popular STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) seeking a slice of the action.
Noting that the STEM subjects are free of ethics, values, morals and humanity at a time when the world needs all those qualities as never before, the disapproving didacts have proposed an addition to the acronym that would give it real power.
“All students should be versed in STEAM,” a writer recently commented, “Science, Technology, Engineering ARTs and Mathematics.”
As a card-carrying member of Innumerates Incorporated, PS-sssst! couldn’t agree more!
Heads up
Heading now to our headstrong series on the headlines we believe are head and shoulder above the others, Megan W of the Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has given us a heads-up on one she thought was well ahead of the pack.
“Some of these media people are very clever,” Megan observed, offering ‘Growers’ grape leap forward’ as a headline that caught her eye over a story about horticulturists gearing up to take advantage of overseas tariff cuts by boosting their plantings now.
Well-spotted Megan. Fabulous book prize on its way.
Meanwhile, back at the PS-sssst! mill, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority was also busy limbering up its cleverness to create a snappy headline to draw attention to World Fish Migration Day which sizzled in the pan last Saturday, 21 April.
Keen to point out that both Golden perch and Silver perch shimmer their way up and down the M-D Basin, the Authority wanted everyone to note the Day and realise that a well-managed watercourse brought its own rewards,
“Op-perch-unities highlighted on World Fish Migration Day’” was the piscatorial heading the Authority entrusted with its message.
Public sector creativity at its piscine peak!
Giving it away!
To Rama’s regular rich readers’ giveaway now in which lucky PS News perusers have the chance to win something for nothing just by answering one of her very easy quiz questions.
The giveaway prize this week is a DVD of the full first season of the hit TV series The Client List starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Cybill Shepherd.
The winner was the first entrant to correctly identify Colin Egglesfield as the actor who plays the role of the supportive brother-in-law to Ms Love Hewitt’s character in the series.
And the lucky reader with the correct answer and whose entry was the first to be plucked from the PS News Barrel of Booty was Diana D from the Tasmanian Department of Premier & Cabinet.
Congratulations Diana and thanks to everyone who took part. The DVD will be on its way very soon.
For another chance to be one of Rama’s PS News winners simply follow this link to this week’s giveaway competition and try your luck.
Someone has to win and it might as well be you!
Good luck.
Sized up!
And finally, from a lovely story about conservationists along the east coast working to protect the future of a threatened bird species known as the ‘Little Eagle’.
The good news is that after protective measures were put in place, the species seems to be making ground.
According to the PS News story, the cheerful monitoring group that included researchers from the Australian National University, the ACT Environment Directorate, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and some nearby land developers “was recently joined by a little eagle researcher from the University of New England”.
PS-sssst! wonders why UNE couldn’t send a big researcher!
Till next week…..
