why does byron tell kenney and joey the story about the garbage trucks

Byron's main purpose was to scare the boys. They were annoying with all their complaints, and he wanted to take their minds off their clothing (they had to dress up), so he gave them something else to think about.

Byron told them that because that was the only way that they would not complain about wearing all the clothes. Unless they wanted to wear less clothes and freeze and have to get picked up by the garbage truck. Byron told them that to scare them.