When we're far from home, a place's little quirks and details often catch us off-guard.

From their culture, store hours, and even how locals greet each other, we all learn something new about the places we travel or move to.

For one British expat, it was the sight of an Aussie garbage truck in action that left him utterly gobsmacked.

Accustomed to the ways of the waste collection back in England, he could not help but marvel at the Aussie way of taking the rubbish out.

The expat then took to social media to share his astonishment.

Garbage trucks have hydraulic arms to collect rubbish on the road. Image Credit: TikTok/Archoz_2025

'Just on my way to work. Look at this f****** mental way the Aussies do their bins,' he exclaimed in a video that captured locals' attention.

'Why has this not caught on in England?' he pondered aloud. 'Crazy.'

The video showcased a garbage truck equipped with hydraulic lifters.

The lifters picked up the rubbish bins and deposited the waste into the vehicle's compaction compartment.

This sight, while commonplace for Australians, was a revelation for the British newcomer and many others who saw the video.

A Sydney garbage collector praised the hydraulic lifters as a 'game changer' for rubbish collection.

'They really help a lot,' the collector said, which underscored the significance of this technology for their workplace.

Several commenters quickly chimed in with their thoughts.

'How does the rest of the world empty their bins? I thought this was normal,' one person
commented.

'We've had this for decades, mate,' another commenter wrote.

'We're innovative because we're lazy and didn't want to pick up the bins ourselves,' a third joked.

Hydraulic lifters on garbage trucks have revolutionised waste collection in Australia, making the chore more efficient and safe.

These mechanical arms effortlessly lift and empty bins without exposing rubbish collectors to waste.

The technology, which relied on hydraulic fluid pressure, could handle heavy bins with minimal effort.

The presence of hydraulic lifters in the Australian waste management sector began during the 1980s and 1990s.

This was a period when the world wanted to automate waste collection systems.

Before this innovation, waste collection was a strenuous manual task as workers physically hoisted and emptied bins.

The shift to hydraulic lifters in rubbish collection aimed to alleviate the physical burden on workers and to streamline the collection process, particularly in urban areas.

So why did this method not catch on in England?

The answer could lie in a combination of factors, including historical infrastructure, cost considerations, and the pace at which new technologies were adopted.

Each country's approach to waste management could evolve differently as it heavily depends on local needs, regulations, and innovations.

This story might bring back memories of how waste collection has changed over the years.

Key Takeaways

• A British expat in Australia was amazed by the country's use of hydraulic lifters for rubbish collection.
• A Sydney Garbo shared that the hydraulic lifters have been a 'game changer' for the industry.
• The online community responded with surprise and humour to the British expat's reaction.
• Hydraulic lifters have revolutionised the efficiency and safety of waste collection in Australia since their introduction in the 1980s.

Do you remember the days before wheelie bins and hydraulic arms? Perhaps you have witnessed a practice overseas that made you wonder why it hasn't been adopted back home. Share your stories and experiences with us in the comments below!

 

[Gaena]

I am sure those of us old enough to remember actually miss the "Garbo men", taking out the rubbish was definitely not so impersonal when we had those Guys who obviously had absolutely no sense of smell but would always take more rubbish than we were allowed to leave out and say Thank you when picking up their Christmas Gifts (Usually Beer) parked by the side of the over flowing rubbish bin. Life was simple back then.

 

[Dennis]

Being an ex 10 - pound pom I could see why the Aussie way would not work, in the many old districts with narrow streets where the cars parked legally on both sides of the road there would no room for the pickup vehicle,

 

[Catherines]

Being an ex 10 - pound pom I could see why the Aussie way would not work, in the many old districts with narrow streets where the cars parked legally on both sides of the road there would no room for the pickup vehicle,

I was about to mention the narrow streets in so many English country areas. It is awkward trying to manoeuvre a car through when both sides have cars parked along them, never mind a truck with hydraulic lifting arms. And I don’t think the English have our large bins either - seems like many areas are still using small crates in different colours for different disposables even now.

 

[Macarj]

When my wife and I went overseas checking out garbage collection was not on my list

 

[Mr Chips]

Well, we are very advanced in collecting our garbage (I could mention our politics sometimes), but I want to know when we can expect the next level; which comprises motorised AI bins that take themselves out?

 

[Veggiepatch]

When my wife and I went overseas checking out garbage collection was not on my list

In 1994, I went on a Kontiki style tour where we visited sewerage treatment plants in 19 different countries in Europe. It proved to be a real stinker!

Just kidding!!!

 

[Josephine B]

Being an ex 10 - pound pom I could see why the Aussie way would not work, in the many old districts with narrow streets where the cars parked legally on both sides of the road there would no room for the pickup vehicle,

Nor the bins as in a LOT of streets the footpaths, they're so narrow that they wouldn't fit especially when all the cars are parked along the streets as well. I love going over to England as we've been MANY times, but I couldn't live there full time because I don't like the cold. We might be "DOWN-UNDER", but we're NOT "DOWN AND OUT".

 

[MariaG]

I am sure those of us old enough to remember actually miss the "Garbo men", taking out the rubbish was definitely not so impersonal when we had those Guys who obviously had absolutely no sense of smell but would always take more rubbish than we were allowed to leave out and say Thank you when picking up their Christmas Gifts (Usually Beer) parked by the side of the over flowing rubbish bin. Life was simple back then.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Those garbos were super fit and did an amazing job. Yes, they did get quite a number of slabs left out for them at Christmas.
I am reminded of the old Pommy song...My Old Man's a Dustman ... very catchy..

 

[Veggiepatch]

A schoolmate's father was an old school garbo but he came to grief in the most shocking way.

He was hanging off the back of a garbo truck when it reversed into wooden power pole. Alan was squashed between the truck and the pole, resulting in massive internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen, perforated bowel, shattered pelvis as well as other organ damage. He even required a prosthetic penis!

It was touch and go for a few weeks as to whether he would survive! He was never the same person, never to work again.

 

[midgemills]

Old school joke.

What has wheels and flies?
A garbage truck.

 

[Nantes]

Being an ex 10 - pound pom I could see why the Aussie way would not work, in the many old districts with narrow streets where the cars parked legally on both sides of the road there would no room for the pickup vehicle,

Exactly what I intended to say. And, you need a clear space next to the kerb for these trucks to operate. They can't reach over a parked vehicle.

 

[Wendy]

In 1994, I went on a Kontiki style tour where we visited sewerage treatment plants in 19 different countries in Europe. It proved to be a real stinker!

Just kidding!!!

My husband worked as an electrician at a sewerage works in the UK for a while. It didn't smell and they grew the best tomato's there.

 

[bluesbrother]

'The shift to hydraulic lifters in rubbish collection aimed to alleviate the physical burden on workers and to streamline the collection process, particularly in urban areas.' The aim, as always with automation, was to employ less workers! Nothing to do with alleviating physical burdens.

 

[Catherines]

That’s the inevitability of technology. We cannot live in the dark ages for the rest of time. Technology progresses and thousands of those doing the manual jobs just have to find other jobs; we cannot whinge and complain this it has put them out of work.

I started my working life on a manual typewriter, then had to teach myself to use the more advanced (at the time) electric typewriter. Later I got another job & was still using electric typewriters when computers came in. I was taught the basics and just had to adapt. Then came the internet - I’ve worked my way through ‘most’ of its technology and also use an iPad now. I could have opted to stay alongside Adam and Eve, but I do my best to keep up.

No use complaining because we will be left behind, and that goes for the trucks with hydraulic arms that pick up our waste. Keep up or stay with Adam and Eve, because technology is progressing so rapidly from one day to the next and probably in our lifetimes it will fly right past us before we can blink.

 

[Miss Chris]

That’s the inevitability of technology. We cannot live in the dark ages for the rest of time. Technology progresses and thousands of those doing the manual jobs just have to find other jobs; we cannot whinge and complain this it has put them out of work.

I started my working life on a manual typewriter, then had to teach myself to use the more advanced (at the time) electric typewriter. Later I got another job & was still using electric typewriters when computers came in. I was taught the basics and just had to adapt. Then came the internet - I’ve worked my way through ‘most’ of its technology and also use an iPad now. I could have opted to stay alongside Adam and Eve, but I do my best to keep up.

No use complaining because we will be left behind, and that goes for the trucks with hydraulic arms that pick up our waste. Keep up or stay with Adam and Eve, because technology is progressing so rapidly from one day to the next and probably in our lifetimes it will fly right past us before we can blink.

Same for me except in between the electric typewriter (the letters would just run away from me until I ‘mastered’ the gentle touch) was the word processor……different computers, different programs, I found it all quite interesting and you get a kick out of finding out how things work….. I think the key is to not be afraid of investigating how things work because there’s very little that can’t be reversed or fixed…..

 

[bluesbrother]

That’s the inevitability of technology. We cannot live in the dark ages for the rest of time. Technology progresses and thousands of those doing the manual jobs just have to find other jobs; we cannot whinge and complain this it has put them out of work.

I started my working life on a manual typewriter, then had to teach myself to use the more advanced (at the time) electric typewriter. Later I got another job & was still using electric typewriters when computers came in. I was taught the basics and just had to adapt. Then came the internet - I’ve worked my way through ‘most’ of its technology and also use an iPad now. I could have opted to stay alongside Adam and Eve, but I do my best to keep up.

No use complaining because we will be left behind, and that goes for the trucks with hydraulic arms that pick up our waste. Keep up or stay with Adam and Eve, because technology is progressing so rapidly from one day to the next and probably in our lifetimes it will fly right past us before we can blink.

That is not any kind of analogy as electronic processing did not sack 3 workers where 4 were employed, nor was it more efficient re typing (except for editing and corrections). Garbos were laid off en masse as the hydraulics came in. Did offices become more streamlined and hire less workers? They had greater outlays on equipment which eventually sometimes paid off. So-called 'progress' is not always progression. Look at the current debacle over AI (that isn't really AI, just machine learning) and copyright. The point of the comment, which was certainly not whingeing, was the hydraulic garbage trucks were not of advantage to employees (as the article claimed), but the employers and manufacturers. Look what manufacturing has done to our food supplies, health, et al. It's fed more people and made a few incredibly rich, while the rest get sicker, work longer and more jobs, but are unable to pay for the lifestyles their ancestors worked for.

 

[Catherines]

That is not any kind of analogy as electronic processing did not sack 3 workers where 4 were employed, nor was it more efficient re typing (except for editing and corrections). Garbos were laid off en masse as the hydraulics came in. Did offices become more streamlined and hire less workers? They had greater outlays on equipment which eventually sometimes paid off. So-called 'progress' is not always progression. Look at the current debacle over AI (that isn't really AI, just machine learning) and copyright. The point of the comment, which was certainly not whingeing, was the hydraulic garbage trucks were not of advantage to employees (as the article claimed), but the employers and manufacturers. Look what manufacturing has done to our food supplies, health, et al. It's fed more people and made a few incredibly rich, while the rest get sicker, work longer and more jobs, but are unable to pay for the lifestyles their ancestors worked for.

Your points are all valid, but we have to move with the times and if we don’t WE will be left behind and will struggle. I was just making a point that we have to keep up and accept advancement, we cannot live in times past and expect to carry on as normal.