Publisher’s Story Summary:

  I dump it in
  I smash it down
  I drive around the trashy town

Meet Mr. Gilly. He cleans up Trashy Town. He does it with a big smile and a big truck--which is sure to make him a hero with all the children in the neighborhood. David Clemesha and Andrea Zimmerman have created a rhythmic, repeatable refrain that will roll off the lips of every child. Dan Yaccarino's dynamic art puts the zip in Mr. Gilly's stride and adds style and charm to trash collection.

LESSON: TRASHY TOWN

Lesson Summary

Follow Mr. Gilly around town as he performs a valuable service - picking up trash from people in his community. What excellent work he does!

Concept: Goods and Services (focus on public goods and services)

Definition:  A good is an object people want that they can touch or hold.  A service is an action that a person does for someone else.

A public good or service is provided by government using taxes collected from citizens.  An example of a public service provided by the federal government is national defense.  Public services often provided by local and state governments are roads, police and fire protection, and education.  Certain services, such as water and trash collection, can be provided by government or by private companies.

Comprehension Questions:

What is the difference between a good and a service?
Both are things people want; however, a good is something you can touch.  A service is something someone does for you.

In the story, what did Mr. Gilly provide – a good or a service?  Explain.
He provided the service of trash collection.  He did something for people; in his work he did not produce a tangible product.

Do you think Mr. Gilly gets paid for providing this service?
Yes.  The story doesn’t say it, but it is evident that he is working for a local government or company.  It takes a lot of his time and he must earn income to provide for him and his family.

Does Mr. Gilly work for the city or for a private company?
You can’t really tell from the story.  Trash collection is a service provided by both government entities as well as by private companies. 

Do you think that people have to pay Mr. Gilly for collecting their trash? 
Yes!  Regardless of whether Mr. Gilly works for the city or for a private company, he provides a scarce and valuable service that people must pay to receive.  If Mr. Gilly works for the city, the city might charge customers directly for the service or collect taxes.

When people pay Mr. Gilly for collecting their trash, who benefits – Mr. Gilly, the person paying Mr. Gilly, or both?
Both!  Both parties benefit from such a transaction.  People get their trash removed and Mr. Gilly earns income.

What large capital resource does Mr. Gilly need to provide his trash collection service?
His garbage truck!

Where does Mr. Gilly take his trash?
He takes it to a dump (landfill). 

Do you think Mr. Gilly must pay to put his trash in the dump?
The story doesn’t say, but dump space is scarce and valuable, too, so Mr. Gilly must pay a fee (tipping fee) to put trash in the dump.  He must collect enough money from customers to cover the cost of this tipping fee. 

  Good and Services   

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