An Aussie mother has divided opinion by asking if it is “illegal” or simply “frowned upon” to toss rubbish into your neighbours’ bin.
In a now viral TikTok video, Port Macquarie mother-of-three Brooke Bliss shared her frustration that her rubbish bins filled up quickly and were only collected once a fortnight.
7NEWS.com.au understands residents in Port Macquarie Hastings Council area receive fortnightly red bin collection, or can opt for weekly collection for an additional fee that is added to their rates.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Bliss said she often waited until the “dead of night” to throw her excess rubbish in her neighbours’ bins.
“Frowned upon or illegal — I’m just not sure,” Bliss said.
“Our bins go out every fortnight … basically, my red bin is always full.
“I have three kids … so my red bin fills up so fast. So, I wait until the dead of night and I put some bin bags in the other neighbours’ bins.
“I do wait until night-time to do it. But we’re in NSW, so daylight saving is over so I don’t wait — so is anyone else doing this or is it just me? Is it illegal?”
Sunrise put the question to social media via a poll, with a resounding “yes” it is OK to use your neighbours’ bins.
Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington and newsreader Edwina Bartholomew weighed in on the debate.
“On the Instagram poll, 72 per cent say OK, 28 per cent say no deal,” Bartholomew said.
“Definitely comes down to the timing, perhaps the contents of your bin,” Edwina said.
“Nothing smelly — no nappies, no prawns,” Barr shot back.
The question caused a huge debate on the Sunrise Facebook page, with many viewers saying they thought throwing rubbish in a neighbour’s bin was fine if you asked for their consent first.
“We live in a cul-de-sac. We share bins and council clean-ups. Everyone helps each other. We only use each other’s bins on bin night,” one viewer wrote.
“Only if I ask first — sometimes we find extra (rubbish) in our red bin from some unknown person,” another viewer wrote.
“I would ask first if mine was already full,” another person said.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council said it “discourages” using neighbours’ bins without consent or knowledge.
“Some residents have neighbourly arrangements to use each other’s bins, which is up to residents to agree on. Unless there is an arrangement in place, council discourages this activity,” it said.