Kerbside bin photo reveals mistake Aussies don't realise they're making

Did you know you're being judged by the way you put your bins out?

Well, it seems you are. And the way you do it apparently says an awful lot about you, as Aussies remain divided over the correct way to go about it.

A debate has erupted online after a picture of the two differing ways next-door neighbours in Melbourne's north placed their bins along the footpath for collection this week. One household put their three bins out and placed them side-by-side almost touching, while thier neighbour left a a large gap between them.

"The most revealing thing about the social intelligence of any household — how far apart they place their bins," one resident wrote on social media this week.

And there is a correct way, Yahoo News Australia has learned.

Aussies divided over correct way to put out bins

The picture prompted thousands of Aussies to join either the 'gap' or 'no-gap' team and there were compelling justifications for both.

Those in favour of having a gap claim it helps workers manoeuvre between the bins and also aids the automatic garbage truck lever to pick up bins without any hassle.

"I leave a gap because I assume it would be hard for the truck driver to pick them up if they're too close together," one argued, while another said they "always leave a gap" as a former truck driver.

However, those opposed to the idea of having gaps said having bins side-by-side and close together allows more space for cars to park on the street, and this method takes up less space on the footpath for pedestrians. Others said the lack of space on their tight inner city street forced their hand into the 'no gap' team.

"When you live in a unit block with seven units, 14 bins to pick up, one tree and only 13 metres of usable kerb space, sorry but there isn't room for such niceties," one admitted, while another threw in a third option of "putting the handle pavement side" suggesting it's easier for workers to grab it rather than "turn a heavy bin 180 degrees".

Councils reveal correct way to put bin out

The Melbourne council that collected the hotly debated bins in the picture has since confirmed the correct way of putting your bin out, with councils across the country agreeing.

The 'gap' team is victorious and all Aussies should be separating their bins.

"According to our waste services team, in an ideal world the bins would be about half a metre apart," Merri-bek City Council Mayor Adam Pulford told Yahoo News Australia.

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However, he did acknowledge the challenges in narrow residential streets and expressed there would ideally be no cars on the street, but this is not the "reality though and so our workers work around obstacles and get the job done."

Across the country other councils agree a gap is best with Adelaide council City of Charles Sturt and Hunter's Hill Council in Sydney advising residents to place bins 30 centimetres apart, with the City of Monash in Melbourne's west suggesting 50 centimetres between them.

"Our workers are great and are able to collect the bins regardless of how far apart they are — even while manoeuvring some of our narrow inner-city streets!" Mayor Pulford added.

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