MNN - Mother Nature Network

Now this is interesting …

 

The Solid Waste Services Department of Austin, Texas, is on the prowl for a new name. Something catchy; something with a bit of zing; something to “better reflect all of the services the department provides, including recycling, garbage collection, yard trimmings pick-up, street sweeping, litter abatement and litter control, household hazardous waste disposal, storm debris cleanup, Zero Waste initiatives and community outreach & education.”

 

To find a catchy new moniker, the city of Austin solicited the public for ideas through an online poll. Austin residents have proposed several fine ideas including the “Ministry of Filth,” “Department of Neat and Clean,” “Austin Recycling & Waste Reduction Department (RWRD),” and “Keep Austin Wasted.” But the frontrunner by a huge margin?

 

It’s the “Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and Arts.”

 

Huh? In case you forgot (perhaps intentionally) who Fred Durst is, he’s the bird-flipping frontman of Limp Bizkit, the popular-in-the-late-'90s rock-rap act responsible for albums such as "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water." Hurst also briefly dated Britney Spears and made a sex tape (not co-starring Spears). And no, Durst isn’t regarded as a champion of recycling and eco-responsible waste disposal. Durst doesn’t even live in Austin. The thing is, Durst and Limp Bizkit are famous for, well, being absolutely godawful. Garbage, if you will.

 

That’s the punchline behind “Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and Arts.” And apparently, folks have taken a liking to the name. It's highly unlikely that Austin will actually go about rebranding its solid waste department as the FDSoHaTA — city of Austin public information specialist Jennifer Herber told NPR that "obviously we're going to go with what makes the most sense for Austin and for the department" — but if the department is ever in need of a theme song for future campaigns, "Nookie" could be a shoo-in.

 

Click here to vote for your favorite new name for Austin's Solid Waste Services Department or suggest your very own. How about the "Mark McGrath Institute of Garbage Sciences?" The polls close on Feb. 10 and the selected name will be announced in April.

 

Via [NPR]