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garbage bin


noun a container in which household rubbish is kept until collection or disposal. Compare dustbin, rubbish bin.

Contributor's comments: Rubbish tin (now bin - because they are often plastic) is more traditional in SA. I think the word garbage is an American term which has become more widely used over the last 30 years. Maybe "Sesame Street" is partly to blame.

Contributor's comments: Actually, I doubt that American media has influenced the use of 'garbage', as they tend to refer to garbage as trash. I am noticing that some people are now referring to their plastic bins as "wheelie bins" in Sydney.

Contributor's comments: I have used the term garbage bin from a time long before Sesame Street became a popular TV program for children. My parents (now in their 80s) have used the term garbage bin fom as long ago as I can remember and we have lived in the Sydney region all that time. Put out the garbage is always used in our house. Rubbish is more likely used to describe garden waste or other matter left for council clean-ups.

Contributor's comments: I grew up in Sydney and Garbage bins have been garbage bins for all of my life. The men who used to collect them were called garbo's. It is a term certainly predating Sesame Street and predating Television.

Contributor's comments: Until they were replaced by the Council "Otto" bins I'd always heard them called;"garbage bins". "Rubbish bins" or "rubbish tins" were more commonly something much smaller that was in the house or the classroom. "Put your chewing gum in the rubbish tin boy!"

Contributor's comments: Garbage bin was always used when I was growing up in Bathurst/Orange and Sydney.

Contributor's comments: The "Garbage Bin" it has always been. Some call it the "Otto", but in other areas the"Sulo".

Contributor's comments: I grew up in Perth. I only remember hearing rubbish bin not trash or garbage. Although with the new bins with wheels I have heard wheelie bin being used as well.