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"Can't WAIT to try this": Tradie's simple bin night hack

Taking the wheelie bins out and having to drag them back in is a chore that many dread, but one Aussie tradie has made life so much easier with his simple hack. Kyle Hume took to TikTok to share his simple yet effective trick to bring in two bins back from the curb at the same time, without having to wrangle two bins with both hands or make multiple trips. "I've been wheeling two bins my whole life until I noticed this," he shared. Hume's trick is to line up two bins in front of each other, resting the lid of the bin at the front on top of the bin at the back, and then closing the lid so it creates a makeshift hook that allows you to tip both bins back and wheel them in unison. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important; width: 573px; max-width: 100%;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7360205539604696336&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40kylehume7%2Fvideo%2F7360205539604696336%3Flang%3Den&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FoYPnEqGncBAAtH22Eli4AIzBQC4wEANEIsf1ki%3Fx-expires%3D1715479200%26x-signature%3Di%252BOzi1g942kcQ1F0%252FqQuNd7eiho%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Many Aussies were "flabbergasted" by the trick, taking to the comments to express their shock at the simple method. "I've learned more on TikTok about adulting than I ever did in school," one joked. "I have four bins - this is going to save my life," another added. "What? Are you kidding me?" a third exclaimed. However, not everyone was impressed with his method, with some saying that it wouldn't work and there is a risk of damaging the bins. "Guessing that green bin slipped over and split using this hack, lol," one wrote. "This seems awkward and clunky," another added. "Don't you have two arms?" a third wrote. Images: TikTok

Home & Garden

"Ignore it": The one parking ticket Aussies can chuck in the bin

Western Australian driver, Connor Wright, has gone viral after sharing his advice on how to handle penalty notices issued by private parking companies. The TikTok, which now has over 1.5 million views, started off with Wright recalling the moment he walked back to his car to find a ticket issued by Parking Enforcement Services (PES), a division of Wilson Parking. Wright then proceeds to rip up the ticket and told others to "make sure to read the fine print on these bad boys". "If you read at the back, it says important information: 'This is not a parking fine'," he said. "Useless, throw it in the bin, don't pay that sh*t." Many have commented how they "wish they knew this earlier". The ticket itself is a 'breach notice' which starts at a $65 penalty from Wilson and is only issued when a person drives into private car park, for example in a shopping centre, and break the terms and conditions issued by the private entity. "What they try and do is recover the debt for the loss incurred, effectively like a breach of contract, but they're not fines — only a statutory body has the power to issue a fine." Sydney Criminal Lawyers James Clements told Yahoo News Australia. Clements also called the penalty a "bullying tactic" to "effectively try scaring people into paying them," but it is difficult to enforce it due to government "crackdowns." However parking fines from bodies like councils, some universities and hospitals should be paid. Clements advises that when you receive the breach notice you should "ignore it" or "write back and say, 'I dispute this and do not intend to pay'." "What you don't want to do is write to them and say that you disclose you were the driver." Drivers are also encouraged to read signs and the terms and conditions when entering a private car park. Images: TikTok

Legal

How to deep clean your kitchen bin

Cleaning the kitchen bin is household chore that can be easily overlooked until a stench begins to creep into your home. To rid your bin of the odour, follow these deep cleaning steps so that you can have a fresh-smelling and clean kitchen bin. 1. Put on your rubber gloves Cleaning a bin requires you to handle an object that has been full of food scraps and questionable liquids, it is best to wear some rubber gloves to protect you from the germs. 2. Empty the bin Begin by emptying your bin and ensuring that there are no lingering food particles in the bottom. Your main objective is to remove any gunk that can be seen. 3. Wash the bin If you have access to an outside area, take your bin outside and hose it down. If you can only clean your bin indoors, then you can do this in the bathtub. Once the bin has been rinsed, pat it down with paper towel. 4. Spray with disinfectant Using a disinfectant cleaner of your preference, generously spray down the inside and outside of your bin. Also include the top and bottom of the bin as you spray. 5. Scrub the bin Use a toilet brush or other long-handled nylon bristle brush to scrub your bin thoroughly. After you have finished scrubbing all over, let the disinfectant cleaner sit for five minutes. 6. Rinse and dry After the five minutes has passed, rinse the can thoroughly. Depending on what you prefer, let the bin dry in the sun or dry it with a towel. Once you have deep cleaned your bin, maintain your hard work by wiping down the inside and outside of the bin with disinfectant spray every time you empty the trash can. Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Body of missing woman hidden inside wheelie bin

The search for the remains of Queensland woman Lesley Trotter continues after police find “strong evidence” that her body was put in a wheelie bin near her home before being collected by a rubbish truck. The 78-year-old had been missing since March 27, sparking alarm when her family members reported that she was not home and had left her mobile phone and wallet behind. Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told reporters on Tuesday that the body, believed to be Trotter’s, was placed in the general waste bin on Maryvale St on March 28. “It was evident at that time that the person we believe is Ms Trotter was deceased,” he said. “Due to the positioning of the body, I can’t rule out foul play at this stage.” Massingham did not elaborate on the extent of her injuries or how police knew about the positioning of Trotter’s body, given that they are still searching for her remains. Massingham also revealed that the bin was collected by a rubbish truck scheduled for that morning, which was then taken to Nudgee Waste Transfer Station, where the rubbish was dropped into a pit. “An additional 22 trucks also visited the site on that Tuesday,” he said. “The loads from each of those trucks was compressed and then was taken away from the facility in six B-double semi-trailers.” He added that the rubbish was then taken to dump sites in Rochedale and Swanbank, which are now being quarantined. Massingham said that police currently have no suspects, despite having conducted interviews over the weekend. They are also planning an extensive search this week to recover Trotter’s remains, with detectives expecting it to be a “difficult operation”. Massingham added that once Trotter’s body is recovered, they will forensically examine it to “try find any piece of evidence” which will help them determine her cause of death. Forensic samples- reportedly including blood- were collected from Trotter’s unit complex and a neighbouring unit complex, although Massingham said that the relevance of these samples “are not yet clear and may be unrelated to this matter”. “This is obviously a disturbing development,” Massingham said, adding that Trotter’s family members have been informed. “This is traumatic to them. I think this is confronting for them, the nature ... would be concerning for any family, particularly a lady of that age ... looking forward to the next chapter of her life.” Police were investigating a possible link between Trotter’s disappearance and her recycling habits, after it was revealed that her neighbours had complained about her taking rubbish out of wheelie bins and leaving it on the ground. However, Massingham has stressed that this was only “one aspect” of the investigation. Images: Queensland Police, 7News

News

Check your rates: Couple's warning after being overcharged for more than a decade

A disgruntled couple from the NSW south coast town of Kiama have slammed their local council after discovering they have been overcharged by around $8,000 for a rubbish bin they weren’t even using. The couple, Kim and Geoff Oppert reached out to A Current Affair to warn other ratepayers to carefully check the fine print on their bills. The pair had made the decision to downsize their red-lid general waste bin after their daughter moved out of the family home, which ideally would have lowered their rates. Due to a mistake on their bills - clouded by legal jargon - the couple were paying twice as much for their red-lid garbage bin. This meant Kiama Council had been charging them for TWO bins for the past 12 years. "Look at your rates notice and check you're paying for just one bin," Mr Oppert told A Current Affair. "Over 12 years we paid $16,000 in garbage waste disposal and it really should have been half that," he said. "Our rate notice doesn't clearly say how many bins we have. It's bureaucratic speak no one could understand." When the couple finally realised the mistake they went straight to the council. "But they would only give us a refund for two years and quoted some tax act as the reason why," Mr Oppert explained. "It is so unfair and just not right," Mrs Oppert added. "It was their mistake not ours, and they admitted it.” Mr Oppert seeks to warn all Australians paying a council for a bin service, "Check your rates notice and make sure you're not getting ripped off.” Kiama Council were made aware of the situation and gave a partial refund to the couple. "When this matter was brought to our attention, Kiama Council acted quickly to rectify the situation, in accordance with the law, as outlined below.”, a Kiama Municipal Council spokesperson said in a statement. “We refunded the amounts of $805.72 for 2021-22 and $818.61 for 2022-23. The couple have not received a full refund due to tax laws. "The Office of Local Government has advised that, where charges go back more than 1 year, the Recovery of Imposts Tax Act 1963 applies as follows", the spokesperson continued. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/03/BINS-PIC.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> "In addition, Kiama Council is now working on an audit of all our urban and residential waste services to ensure our charges are correct. "Council reminds all ratepayers to check their bills and if anything is unclear, please get in touch with us to discuss, we are always happy to help." Image credit: A Current Affair/Kiama Municipal Council

Real Estate

$5000 fine for smelly bins set to cause a huge stink

New rules introduced in a Perth suburb could see them face a fine of up to $5,000 if their rubbish bins get too smelly. A new law could see residents of Victoria Park cop a hefty fine if their green-lidded Garden Organics (GO) bins have a bad odour, which were introduced for the disposal of grass clippings, weeds, leaves and sticks. Mayor Karen Vernon told <a href="https://www.6pr.com.au/rumour-confirmed-vic-park-ratepayers-face-5k-fine-for-smelly-organic-bins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6PR</a> the fine was introduced in a bid to ensure people sorted their rubbish correctly. “We will need some powers, as a local council, to be able to make that behaviour change appropriately,” she said. “So what’s really important is that the contents of that third bin is just organic material, so there needs to be no level of contamination in there, that’s what makes an organic collection process to work really well,” she said. While some have shared their support for the move, others have taken to social media to critique the “rubbish” decision. “Fining someone because their rubbish bin smells, should be a council service to disinfect bins when emptied. We pay astronomical rates let‘s see them justified,” Sheldon Baker wrote on Facebook. “Omg who seriously has clean smelling rubbish after a week in an outside bin? Maybe they can provide deodorant for our bins or perfume!” Christine Stephan said. “I mean, if your bins smell, it‘s because you are lazy and that’s on you,” Kendall Mulvena-Trinder said. Rumours have also emerged that the council would employ “bin smellers” as part of the decision, with Councillor Vernon dismissing them as “exaggerated”. “That certainly doesn’t mean we will be employing people to go smell other people’s bins,’’ she said. While the GO bin is currently restricted to garden waste, the council is hoping to expand this to food organics in the “not too distant future”. Image: @townofvicpark (Instagram)

Legal

If these things are in your freezer, toss them out

Out of space in your freezer? Make room by ditching these items that are no longer any good to you. Smelly ice cubes There’s nothing refreshing about taking a big gulp of ice water and tasting the garlic you put in the freezer last week. Once ice cubes have taken on the scents around them, they’ll never get rid of them. Toss those and start fresh. If this is a problem you have found yourself facing, it might be time to invest in ice cube trays with lids – they can help preserve the ice cubes’ freshness and keep them odour-free. Forgotten freezer meals Look at you with your freezer full of healthy freezer meals! It’s great to plan ahead but don’t get overambitious with your meal prep. Prepared freezer meals should be eaten within three months. Try a first-in, first-out approach, and keep track of your freezer’s contents using labels. Stale coffee beans Storing ground coffee in the freezer can preserve freshness but be mindful of how long those beans have been sitting in there. Coffee beans absorb moisture, as well as the various tastes and smells around them, so make sure to use them within three months. Freezer-burned veggies How long has that bag of frozen mixed veggies been sitting in the back of your freezer? If it survived your last move, it’s time to toss it. Frozen veggies can be kept in the freezer for about three months – or shorter, if freezer burn has crept in. Thawed meat We love keeping a supply of chicken freezer meals on hand for busy weeknights. Once meat like chicken begins to thaw, though, it starts to grow bacteria. If your freezer isn’t functioning at the optimal freezer temperature, the meat inside can start to thaw without anyone the wiser, which can be unsafe. Freezer-burned meat Most commonly, though, it’s freezer burn you should fear. Given enough time, it will render your meat dry and tasteless. If you notice small ice crystals in the packaging, or can’t remember how long the meat has even been in the freezer, it’s time for it to go. Tightly sealing your meat before freezing it is a good way to ward off freezer burn. Old deli meat Deli meat is one of those items that is very convenient to have on hand, but which spoils quickly. The good news is that you can definitely freeze deli meat. Even with proper preparation, however, it can only last up to two months in the freezer. After that, even if it remains safe to eat, it won’t taste very good. Just as with other meats, deli meat should be tightly sealed and wrapped before it’s frozen. Pastries with creamy filling Once you’ve gone to the trouble of making a heavenly cheese danish from scratch, the last thing you want to do is throw away the leftovers. But pastries and other treats with cheese or creamy filling don’t keep well in the freezer; in fact, many of the foods that cannot be frozen are dairy products. Toss those cheese danishes after a month (or just eat them to avoid this problem altogether). Unrecognisable leftovers We love finding creative ways to repurpose leftovers; they just won’t last in the freezer forever. Most leftover dishes will keep for two to six months in the freezer. If they’ve been sitting for a while and you can’t remember what the food was in the first place, pitch it and start over. Old ice cream Most of us don’t have the problem of ice cream lasting too long in our homes but if you happen to have more self-control, you may find yourself in this predicament. If your tub of ice cream is older than three to four months, it’s time for it to go. So grab a bowl and a spoon before time is up! If you have a new large tub, try dividing it up and storing it in individual serving containers to help preserve that fresh flavour. Freezer-burned bread If you have more fresh bread than you know what to do with, and don’t want it to go stale before you have a chance to enjoy it, then popping it in the freezer is a great idea. But bread only lasts in the freezer for about six months. After that, freezer burn will likely have ravaged its good taste and texture. If you find a loaf in the back of the freezer that’s been there for who knows how long, then it needs to go. To keep it fresh as long as possible, make sure to wrap it tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, and then in a layer of foil or freezer paper. Pro tip: slice your bread before freezing, so you only ever have to remove what you need. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/if-these-things-are-in-your-freezer-toss-them-out?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

How to build timber covers for wheelie bins

The Sekit flat-packed system, from Bunnings (bunnings.com.au), uses ACQ treated pine and takes an hour to assemble, fitting 120 and 240 litre bins. A single bin cover measures 670 x 810 x 1200mm, and the double is 1340 x 810 x 1200mm. <div id="firstFloatAd"> <div data-fuse="21928626849"> </div> <div data-fuse="21699960946"> </div> </div> Simple latch bolts keep the doors secured and a chain joins the bin handles to the covers so both lids are raised simultaneously, making rubbish disposal much more hygienic. TIP – To remove the bins on collection day, unhook the lid chains before opening the doors.A chain connects the bin ASSEMBLE THE FRAME positioning the dividing frame against the side panels and adding the front and back supports, securing with the supplied screws. Square up the frame and secure the two diagonal back supports. <div id="lastFloatAd"> <div data-fuse="21928512968"> </div> <div data-fuse="22652288252"> </div> </div> INSTALL THE LIDS by aligning the holes on the lid with the holes in the frame then insert the supplied bolts, securing the outside bolts with the washer and nut and the inside bolts using a Phillips head screwdriver. ATTACH THE DOORS by aligning the top hinge and securing with a screw at the top, attach the base hinge, checking the door is parallel with the side then secure the second screw at the top and attach the latch bolts. Image: Bunnings

Home & Garden

Extremely valuable snake found hiding in city bin

An abandoned pet snake has been spotted on bustling Oxford Street in the Sydney CBD, with authorities saying the precious reptile is worth around $1000.The very out-of-place diamond head python was discovered hiding in a bin outside a Paddington barber's shop, after which a helpful bystander coaxed the snake into a leather bag for safe-keeping.The native Australian reptile's rare appearance has sparked concern among authorities and wildlife carers, with the incident now set to be investigated by police.<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/snake-on-bin.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="261" />The snake was taken to a vet to be treated for minor injuries, which are believed to have been inflicted by its previous owner.Once given the all-clear, the python will be given the chance to find a new owner and fresh start.According to Australia Zoo, diamond pythons are closely related to the commonly recognised carpet python.They are often black in colour with cream or yellow, diamond-shaped blotches covering the entire length of their body. Being a python, they are non-venomous. They constrict their prey in order to kill it and then consume it whole.Image: Nine News

Travel Trouble

Lisa Wilkinson describes Australia’s handling of COVID-19 as a “bin fire”

The Project host Lisa Wilkinson has described Australia’s handling of COVID-19 as a “bin fire”, particularly when compared to New Zealand’s. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced tougher restrictions from midnight Sunday in an effort to combat the growing spread of the Omicron variant, moving the nation to an alert level of red. The new restrictions mean that household close contacts may be forced to isolate for 24 days, while anyone with Covid must isolate for 14 days. While lockdowns are no longer a possibility, masks are mandatory on public transport, in retail environments, and for children above grade four in schools. In addition, there are capacity limits on retail, and hospitality and gym venues, as well as weddings, can have up to 100 people. The government has stated, however, that if the new restrictions don’t stop the spread, then it will change the rules and stop trying to prevent every case. Meanwhile, Australia has embraced a much more laid back approach, which some have described as “letting it rip”. Ardern even confirmed the cancellation of her own wedding, announcing, “My wedding will not be going ahead, but I just joined many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic. “And to anyone who’s caught up in that scenario, I’m so sorry. Such is life.” WIlkinson was amazed at New Zealand’s new rules, exclaiming, “Wowee – 24 days! If that doesn’t give you an indication that Jacinda Ardern has looked across the ‘ditch’ at our bin fire and gone, ‘Not doing that!’ Wow!” Ardern said of New Zealand’s approach, “Our plan for managing Omicron in the early stage remains the same as Delta, where we will rapidly test, contact trace and isolate cases and contacts.” Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said, “We’ve just gone back up to that in light of Omicron and to help with managing the spread in this early stage. We think we still have a good opportunity to potentially stamp it out or really reduce the Omicron transmission. “Because it is Omicron we have taken an approach at this point in time where we are isolating contacts of close contacts initially until those close contacts return that negative day five test, then those second tier group of contacts can go about their normal day.” Image: The Project

News

Woman’s angry post sparks debate about bin diving

A Sydney resident’s Facebook post about a bin diver has made headlines, as residents of her south-Sydney suburb debated whether bin diving is ethical or not. Following the introduction of container refund schemes in Australia, which have served as a way to encourage recycling and money saving in kids, “bin diving” has seen a sharp increase, with people rummaging through others’ bins in an effort to find cans and bottles they can turn in to NSW’s Return and Earn program. The program gives residents 10 cents for every can and bottle they hand in, and there are reports that some are earning as much as $2000 a week through the scheme. A Mortdale resident learned about the lengths people will go to in order to collect recyclables this weekend, after finding an elderly man on her property on Sunday morning, going through her son’s collection of cans. Submitting her complaint to a Mortdale community group on Facebook, she wrote, “Was awoken this morning 21/11/21 to our dog barking, only to find this elderly man had entered our property (via the front gate) and was caught red handed helping himself to my son's recycle can collection, located up the side of our house.” She included a photo of the man, hoping the community would be able to identify him. The woman went on to explain that her “very large” husband came outside after hearing the commotion, and tried to take the bag of recycling from the man. The man refused to let go, and subsequently slipped. The woman made various claims about the man’s English abilities, namely that he was pretending he couldn’t speak English, and said he was “of sound mind and knew exactly what he was doing”. She finished, “If you know of this man, please let him know that trespassing on other people's properties is not only illegal, but may end up terribly for him, should a man of a different disposition to my hubby (or an aggressive dog) decide to take matters into their own hand!!” Many were quick to agree with her that his behaviour was inappropriate, with people calling him a thief and calling for him to be locked up. One commenter wrote that she should have “turn[ed] the hose on him”, while another wrote that there was “no excuse to steal”. Others weren’t as harsh, with several saying that there was no need to post about the ordeal. One commenter urged the woman to “try compassion”, while another said that she was not being “very nice”. One person said, “I do not condone theft but if someone is stealing veggies out of my garden, my first response is to find out why,” while another wrote that they would have given him the cans along with $10. “I am so blessed and feel for the old and elderly that may be having a hard time getting money for food.” Image: Maskot

Legal

Handy tip to keep birds out of your bin

We all know that birds and other wildlife can wreak havoc on bin day by sorting through our garbage bins. But a woman has discovered a handy trick to stop this from happening. The woman posted her trick to the Cleaning and Organising Inspiration Australia <a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/social-media" target="_blank" title="Facebook">Facebook </a>group, saying she'd seen the method on one of her neighbour's rubbish bins. "On my walk today whilst in lockdown I came across one of the smartest tricks I've seen in a while," she posted. Her post showed a photo of a red garbage bin with two water bottles cable-tied to its handles. The woman added: "The reason for this is to keep birds out of your bins so they don't create mess. Thought it may be helpful to someone who may be having this problem.” The woman’s post received over 1600 reactions, with hundreds sharing their appreciation for the simple trick in the comments. "So clever!!!" one person wrote. "This is genius; I'm sick of the birds getting in and rubbish flying everywhere. Thanks," another person praised. Birds are the main culprits It seems that birds - particularly cockatoos – are the main culprits for picking through garbage bins on bin day. However, a woman shared evidence it can be other wildlife also doing some sifting and sorting: The woman posted: "We have this problem too except found out at night time it wasn't birds!!” While some people aren’t so worried about wildlife going through their bins quite a few others noted the handy trick could be useful against the natural elements. "Great idea for windy days to keep the lid down too," one person added. "Also would stop your bin blowing over," another poster wrote. Image: Facebook

Home & Garden

Bin Laden's notorious Pink Palace up for sale

Ibrahim bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s brother, has listed his Bel Air mansion for sale, with an asking price of $AUD 38.1 million ($US 28 million) according to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://nypost.com/2021/07/30/osama-bin-ladens-bel-air-estate-is-on-sale-for-28m/" target="_blank">New York Post</a>. Property records show that Ibrahim, the older half-brother of the late terrorist, has owned the property for nearly four decades. When he purchased the Mediterranean-style mansion in 1983, Ibrahim spent $US 163,000 at the time - equating to roughly $US 5.5 million after adjusting for inflation. However, the home has been unoccupied since the September 11 attacks in 2001. Ibrahim was vacationing overseas at the time of the attack, but never returned to the US. The listing describes the home as “ready for redoing, owner has not been here for over 20 years”. Since the property has been long abandoned, interior photos of the home are hard to find, and the hefty price tag is based on “land value only” and location, rather than the state of the home itself. The almost 100-year-old home, in the prestigious lower Bel Air neighbourhood, spans 600 sqm and sits on more than 8100 sqm of land. The seven-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion was built in 1931 and features an unusual exterior of concrete that has been painted pink. The property was previously owned by Hollywood producer Arthur Freed, who produced The Wizard of Oz, An American in Paris, and Singin’ in the Rain. Ibrahim lived in the home with his former wife, Christine Hartunian Sinay, and employed “full-time groundskeepers, household help, chauffeurs, and private security”, according to Steve Coll’s biography, The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century. Images: Realtor.com

Real Estate

Young mum found dead inside charity bin identified

A woman who passed away after she became stuck in the opening of a charity bin has been identified. Alarrah Lawrence, 33, was looking inside a Good Sammys clothing donation bin at Stockland Baldivis Shopping Centre, Western Australia when she became “trapped and unable to remove herself”, police told reporters. The tragedy took place at about 1:40 am, and her body was later found at around 5 am on Tuesday. Reports claim the mother was standing on a plastic bucket to reach inside the bin, until the bucket slipped beneath her feet and left her trapped. The Australian reported her body remained “half in, half out” of the bin, with just a small pile of clothing on the ground beneath her. Rockingham Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew says police believe Ms Lawrence died from asphyxiation. Ms Lawrence’s partner penned a devastating tribute to his “soulmate” on Facebook in the hours after her death. “This is a cruel world can't believe your gone devastated word can't explain I'm going to miss U I just wish I could tell U I love U 1 more time my soulmate [sic],” he wrote. “Raining sadness for my family,” another family member said. “Alarrah you won’t be forgotten.” Ms Lawrence leaves behind a 15-month-old son. Police do not think Ms Lawrence’s death is suspicious. Sadly enough, her death follows just three months after a 43-year-old mother was found dead in a charity bin on the Gold Coast. Mikki O’Shea, was tragically found trapped in the bin, near a shopping centre in Burleigh Heads in April. At the time, Queensland Police said firefighters had to cut the woman’s body free, after the bin lid had come down onto Ms O’Shea.

Caring

Community rocked by death of teenager killed in bin

A community in South Australia has been left devastated following news of a 13-year-old boy being killed after a bin he and his two mates were sleeping in was picked up by a garbage truck. New information regarding why the boys came to be inside the bin has just shown how tragic the circumstances were. Spencer Benbolt Junior, 13, was asleep in an industrial bin in Port Lincoln early on Tuesday with two other boys – aged 11 and 12. It began being emptied due to a scheduled collection. One boy managed to escape injury by jumping out, but the other two children became trapped. The 12-year-old boy who escaped immediately began to bang on the driver’s door to alert him of the tragedy, and emergency services were called to the Reoco car park just after 5.20am. Spencer suffered serious injuries and sadly died at the scene. The other boy was unharmed despite also being thrown into the truck. The group of boys had been wandering around their town for hours in an effort to escape the rain and cold, the Daily Mail reports. The trio stopped off at the nearby Grand Tasma Hotel to ask for water at about 12.30am. The boys reportedly made it clear to the local pub goers that they had no intention on going home that night. The group wandered to Port Lincoln’s industrial area where they reportedly tried to seek shelter at a McDonald. They would then decide to crawl into the industrial bin for the night. South Coast Local Service Area officer in charge Paul Bahr told reporters on Tuesday that the boys were not classified as homeless and had “places to stay … with beds they could sleep in”. “We’re not aware of any reports of children sleeping in bins in Port Lincoln. This is the first time we’ve become aware of it,” he said. “Port Lincoln has an issue with homelessness like every community and from time to time we do get rough sleepers (but) I’m not aware of children sleeping rough.” The Department of Child Protection said the boy was not in state care. On Tuesday Spencer’s aunty released a statement to Nine News on behalf of the family. “Spencer always had a close relationship with his parents, brothers and grandmothers, who he loved and adored,” she read. “He loved hunting, fishing, camping, was a cheeky boy who had a big imagination.” It is believed Spencer, known as Budda to his friends and family, had been staying with friends recently. Holly Puckridge, who was a friend of Spencer’s told 7News he had asked to “stay with us for a couple of days and we let him sleep over”. Mother Jess Bettoncelli said her 12-year-old son often hung out with the group and would join them in sleeping outside services stations and at local sporting grounds. “He’s very shaken up, he’s I think confused,” she told the outlet. “He’s I guess wondering and suspecting that that could have been him last night.” <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841164/bear.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/34bbb4ff971c4ba188867ad3396efe70" /> Superintendent Bahr said the two other boys involved in the incident have been left “traumatised” by what happened. “The background as to how they’ve ended up in this industrial bin is something that’s really going to take some time to understand,” he said. “It will be a strong part of the coronial investigation that we’ve begun.” The truck driver was not aware the boys were inside the bin when he picked it up, and has been reportedly left “extremely shaken” by the incident. Superintendent Bahr also said it was a “terrible event”. “Dealing with a young child who is suffering significant trauma and not being able to save their life after a lot of effort has gone into attempting to revive him is going to be very difficult to them,” he said. images: Supplied

News

Man reveals why he hasn’t taken his bins out in three years

One Australian man has revealed he has not put his rubbish out for collection in more than three years. Gary Moran, from South Australia says his bins have not been put out because he makes calculated choices about the items he purchases. Mr Moran, from Gawler admitted he avoids most items at the supermarket. "I grow some veggies myself and do some shopping at bulk stores and farmer markets, but I'm also careful at the supermarket as to make sure that anything that I do purchase, that the packaging is recyclable," Mr Moran said to Yahoo News Australia. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840943/rubbish.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ac54d60472c540f48e24978682f06ead" /> He also said he recycles his soft plastic through REDcycle, making it a much simpler to reduce his overall waste. "It's been an ongoing thing that I've built on," he said. Mr Moran says he cut down his general waste drastically when he began crunching all of his aluminium foil into a large ball and combing smaller bits of metal and plastic into individual containers. He says he didn’t feel like he had to sacrifice anything to become more environmentally friendly. "I can't say that I really sacrificed anything, it's just about making a more intelligent choice about what you buy. I don't feel like I miss out on anything," he said. Mr Moran encourages those hoping to get into the minimal-waste lifestyle to make small changes to their daily habits. "When you want to start on a similar journey, you can make a small station at home where you can separate your things at the source," he said. "It's so easy when there's something in your hand that needs to be put somewhere, and it's no harder than throwing it in the bin." He also warned consumers to think about where their rubbish ends up going when they are done with it and to be wary of what they purchase. Image: Yahoo

Home & Garden

Mum-of-three dies after getting stuck in a charity bin

Friends of a mother-of-three found dead inside a Queensland charity bin have claimed that her family has not been told the "whole story" two days after her body was discovered. Mikki O'Shea, 43, died after becoming stuck in one of the bins behind Stockland Burleigh Heads Shopping Centre and was found by a woman donating at 7 am on Monday morning. Police are not treating her death as suspicious and are instead describing it as a case of "misadventure". O'Shea's friends set up a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-mikki-osheas-funeral-and-family?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1" target="_blank">GoFundMe</a> page to cover the cost of funeral expenses as well as support her family. "Mikki was a vibrant, creative, and just all round amazing person who was a devoted single mother to her three kids," the fundraiser description reads. "She was the most generous person someone could ever meet. She was such a joyful woman who always lived life vicariously. "Mikki's family is going through a very difficult time as this was a horrible accident that no one could've expected. "The family has still not been told the whole story." Police reports have suggested that O'Shea was trying to retrieve something from the bin when the lid came down and trapped her.

Caring

Foreign ship convicted of dumping garbage on Great Barrier Reef

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A foreign shipping company and the chief officer of one of its vessels have been convicted for dumping food scraps on the World-Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. The Liberian bulk carrier Iron Gate dumped the equivalent of 120-litres of a garbage bin filled with food waste into the reef in 2018. The chief officer approved the discharge of garbage between Brisbane and Gladstone. Fines against both parties totalled $6,600 and were persecuted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). “Australians and tourists alike visit Lady Elliot Island to swim with manta rays and turtles – not blended food waste from merchant ships,” ASMA general manager of operations Allan Schwartz said. “We take a zero-tolerance approach to pollution from shipping and that is why, after detecting this breach during a routine inspection of Iron Gate in 2018, we detained the ship and later charged the chief officer and company, Kairasu Shipping S.A.” He said the conviction would impact the company's reputation. “Dumping garbage into the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef isn’t something you want on your professional record,” he said. “These convictions should serve as a reminder to other industry operators that in Australia, we make sure polluters pay.” </div> </div> </div>

Travel Trouble

"Blatant disregard for hygiene": Man slams Woolworths self-serve checkouts

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A Woolworths customer slammed the supermarket giant for a "blatant disregard of hygiene" at one of its Melbourne stores. He said that he was disappointed to see that staff at his local store had left bins on the grocery shelves next to some self-serve registers. “It is almost inconceivable that anyone would place rubbish bins at any time on a surface where meat and vegetables are placed, but during a pandemic?” the customer wrote. “It is inexcusable.” He also said it was a "blatant disregard for hygiene". <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwoolworths%2Fposts%2F5142232599182163&width=500&show_text=true&height=561&appId" width="500" height="561" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> However, many defended the supermarket, saying that they didn't see the problem. “These bins are just for the receipts. How are they any less hygienic than the counter that people are touching?” said one. “He says, whilst using a touchscreen or keyboard, both of which harbour more bacteria than your average toilet seat,” another commenter said. “The two registers with bins on the bench are closed. What’s the big deal? The rubbish isn’t going to jump out, on to your meat and vegetables,” a third agreed. The irritated shopper said he would prefer to see the bins "on the FLOOR". A Woolworths spokesperson said that they would pass the shoppers feedback onto the relevant store. </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

Neighbour's bizarre behaviour over rubbish bin spat

A woman has shared a video revealing the damage caused by her next-door neighbour after she parked on the street outside their house. While the US TikToker, who goes by Lena Cuisine on social media, didn’t do anything wrong, her frustrated neighbour claimed she parked in the spot for his rubbish bin. The neighbour then decided to stick an angry note on the window of her car and wrote a scathing message on the side of her white vehicle in Sharpie. “You illegally occupied our garbage canister location, please move your car ASAP,” both messages read. In the video, Lena said she attempted to talk to her neighbour who wouldn’t answer the door and asked for tips because the pen wasn’t coming off her car. “This is where I’m legally allowed to park, but my neighbours like to leave lots of notes saying I’m illegally parking where their garbage can goes – it’s not even garbage day,” she explains, showing the green bin pulled up right behind her car. The video has since gone viral, being viewed over 4 million times since it was shared on November 17. “A garbage can doesn’t get a reserved parking space,” one person raged. “This is so wrong, people can’t just write with permanent ink on your car,” another stated. While another said: “I don’t understand why they’re upset with you when you’re literally parked outside your own house.” Lena went ahead and shared a second video, showing footage of police asking the neighbour if he had vandalised the car with a marker - to which he replied: “Yes, they occupied my garbage location. I cannot put my garbage on the location.” The officer then informs him that what he did was illegal, to which the neighbour tries to argue she had broken the law first by parking in the spot - a point police state “no” to. After calling Lena a “bad woman”, the clip cuts to her neighbour – whose identity has been protected – cleaning her car. He even went one step further and sprayed perfume on the vehicle to make it smell nice, later gifting her the perfume to keep for herself. Many praised Lena for being kind when she could have been rightly angry. “He is clearly old, was bitter and confused. You handled it with grace and maturity, I’m honestly inspired,” one said. “This kind of hurts my heart, the confusion in old age is hard. Be kind always,” a woman wrote. “Aww, he sounded like a grumpy old man, he was so nice to give the perfume,” another said. “I think he feels bad now,” someone else mused, while one declared the update was “nothing I expected and everything I needed”. Many others agreed they were torn, writing he was in the wrong but couldn’t help but feel bad for him. Lena later shared another video updating everyone saying she was nice because she only ever wanted to have a “civil conversation” with her neighbour and for him to “clean up my car”.

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"Can't WAIT to try this": Tradie's simple bin night hack