Tasmanians don outfits to take wheelie bins to kerb as part of Facebook phenomenon

Fun-loving Tasmanians are donning elaborate outfits to take their wheelie bins to the kerb.

FUN-loving Tasmanians are donning elaborate outfits to take their wheelie bins to the kerb, as part of global Facebook phenomenon inspired by coronavirus isolation.

The Bin Isolation Outing group has amassed more than 540,000 followers worldwide since it began two weeks ago, with that number still rising steadily each day.

“So basically, the bin goes out more than us,’’ the page’s administrators explain.

“So let’s dress up for the occasion. Fancy dress, makeup, tutu … be creative. Post photos to cheer us up — after all, laughter is the best medicine.’’

The page is brimming with photos and videos of men in evening dresses and high heels, women in wedding gowns clutching bouquets of limp celery, people donning their best suits or their craziest hats, dancers busting out choreographed routines and kids dressing up as their favourite book and movie characters, all while taking out their rubbish.

And plenty of Tasmanians are getting in on the action, keen to brighten the lives of others during a stressful time.

Ange Watson and son Arthur Synott, 7, of Acton Park. They have been participating in the Facebook movement Bin Isolation Outing where people dress up to take their bins out for a bit of fun. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Acton Park’s Ange Watson and her seven-year-old son Arthur love any excuse to pull on costumes from their dress-up box and have taken great delight in following the bin outing page.

“Arthur and I have been dressing up for years,’’ Ms Watson said.

“His first birthday party was a book character dress up party. We love dressing up together because of the planning, preparation and the shared giggles that happen in the idea stage.’’

She said it was important to maintain a sense of humour during tough times.

“During this time of worry, with so many changes in our everyday routine, people have found the greatest way to improve the mundane,’’ she said.

“We are all confined to our houses and if the only weekly outing we have is to the road with a wheelie bin why not make it fancy.’’

“I love reading that the page has reached other parts of the world and is bringing joy to people everywhere. We have to find some positives during this time and try to keep things light and cheery, especially for the children.”

Arthur said he liked seeing the “cool ideas” people had come up with so far. The duo decided to dress as clowns because “they are colourful, fun, mischievous and make us smile’’.