A Canberra teenager has been rescued after he fell asleep in a bin and was collected by a passing garbage truck.

Early this morning a garbage collector in Tuggeranong heard strange noises coming from the back of his truck.

On investigation he discovered a 15-year-old boy had become trapped in the rubbish compactor.

The boy, who has not been named, had been sleeping in a dumpster bin and was inadvertently picked up and dropped two metres onto the growing waste pile.

Emergency services were called to help get him out and he was taken to the Canberra hospital with injuries to his arms and hands.

ACT Police have since issued a general warning against entering or sleeping in bins.