A man has died after being run over by a rubbish truck in an inner-city Brisbane laneway.

A police spokesman said the truck was reversing in a laneway off Adelaide Street near Anzac Square, to make a collection just before 3am when it struck the man, who police believed was sleeping at the time.

The man died when he was struck by the rubbish truck while he was sleeping.

The man, who Anzac Square management confirmed was homeless, was declared dead at the scene.

The Forensic Crash Unit was investigating.

Police initially believed the man died in Isles Lane but it was later confirmed he was run over and died in the laneway next to Anzac Square, on the northern side of the road.