Sucky McTrucky? The Hoov? Big Gulp? Pierce County seeks name for vacuum trash truck
Pierce County’s first litter vacuum truck is on the streets and now it needs a name.
The 20-cubic-yard capacity shop-vac on wheels arrived in January. Its mission: to suck up scattered roadside debris and, come fall, drain-clogging leaves.
The truck has a 16-inch-diameter suction hose which can Hoover up roadside litter and even small bags of dumped garbage.
Now, the county wants to name it.
“We look forward to the community’s ideas for what we could name this important public asset,” said Mark Schumacher, a planning and public works manager.
After suggestions are collected, the public will get to vote on their favorite.
But, there’s a catch.
“Submissions that include obscene, indecent, profane, discriminatory, or copyrighted information will not be considered,” the county states. “In addition, Pierce County, in its sole discretion, may reject any submission for any reason it deems proper.”
“We’re kind of looking for something, maybe, that is a fun name,” county spokesperson Anne Radford said Friday. “Everyone might get a laugh from it ... something cute.”
Naming contests gone wrong
Clearly, the county has heard about Boaty McBoatface.
In 2016, a British government agency thought it was a good idea to let the public decide, via the internet, on the name of a new polar research ship. After a media personality suggested the McBoatface moniker, the name became a hit with the public and garnered the most votes.
Alas, the agency scrapped the contest and decided instead to name the ship after David Attenborough. As a consolation, an autonomous underwater vessel got the Boaty McBoatface name.
In 2012, Slovak officials vetoed the results of an internet poll that chose to name a new pedestrian bridge after American action film star Chuck Norris. Instead, they picked “Freedom Cycling-Bridge.”
Boring.
Pierce County can do better.
Potential names
The truck’s name will be painted somewhere on its exterior, Radford said. And yes, the county does have a sense of humor.
“We want this to be fun for the community and to have a name at the end of the day that people can feel it was a fun name for our litter truck,” she said.
The News Tribune came up with a few suggestions to get the juices flowing. Think thematically.
Pacific Northwest: TrashSquatch
Sports: Refuse to Lose
Weather: Trashy Tornado
Sesame Street: Snuffleupatruck
Drag: Lady Chablis Debris
Sci-Fi: Event Horizon
Cutesy: Litter Critter
Politics: I Did Inhale
OK, maybe not all of those may fly with county officials.
The truck
In October, the county proposed purchasing a truck and hiring a new maintenance technician at a cost of $676,000. Eventually, the county purchased the truck for $260,000. It will work about 35 hours a week, Radford said.
The truck will respond to litter reports along roads in unincorporated Pierce County, she said.
Meanwhile, the county is collecting data to develop a regular route and identify problem areas.
In fall, the truck can suck up storm drain-clogging leaves, reducing roadway flooding. It will continue to pick up trash.
Roadside litter
Unsightly trash piling up on the region’s streets and highways is no laughing matter. Pierce County has a variety of ways it deals with it, Radford said.
In the summer, temporary crews with the county’s sustainable resources team pick up trash. Maintenance and operations division staff respond to illegal dumping sites and objects in the road.
“Scattered litter, which is what this truck will be better equipped to address, is more challenging for our teams to get through on a regular basis,” Radford said. “So I think this truck will really be a great additional tool.”
The county also has an adopt-a-road program.
Rules and deadlines
Naming suggestions can be submitted through May 3. Voting runs May 10-20 and the name will be announced May 24.
Only residents in unincorporated Pierce County can suggest ideas, the county said. Residents can suggest up to three ideas with each suggestion consisting of no more than three words.
Submit your ideas at: piercecountywa.gov/8279/Litter-Vacuum-Truck
This story was originally published April 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
