Part 2/16:
In 2024, one of New York City’s most high-profile initiatives involved a surprising expenditure: the city hired a top-tier consulting firm—McKenzie—to advise on something as basic as how to put rubbish in a bin. The firm responded with an exhaustive 80-page presentation centered around the revolutionary concept of “containerization.” Among its suggested benefits were the elimination of rats, cleaner streets, and less pedestrian clutter. While it might seem ludicrous to pay $4 million — roughly $42,000 per slide — for such an idea, this case exemplifies a broader trend of how the consulting industry has increasingly dressed up obvious or clichéd advice with fancy terminology, often at exorbitant costs.