In the books, the origins of the character are rather gruesome. Originally an ordinary man by the name of Nick Hopper. The binman used to make his living collecting the bins in the land of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the East turned hi into rubbish to prevent him from marrying the girl that he loved. No one could love a man made of rubbish. When the Binman was humn he was quite vain and hated the rubbish he had to collect, and it is only because he thinks no-one could love him that he becomes unlovable. He seeks good looks from the Wizard so that he can be loved again but of course it is what is on the inside that makes hi lovable, but maybe he could wash. It will be dorothy that shows him that he can be loved but in the end he marries his girlfriend who loves him despite of him being ugly, but really he might try febreeze or something.
When the Lyin Dorothy and Toto are put to sleep by the Witches field of poppies he doesn't fall asleep because he can only smell himself. At this point he could continue to the Emerald City on his own or with the Scarecrow but he choose to carry the lion and Dorothy whilst Scarecrow takes Toto.
In the story Dorothy befriends the Binman and he follows her to the Emerald City to be able to be loved again from The Wizard of Oz. They are joined on their adventure by the Scarecrow and the Lyin. The Wizard sends Dorothy and her friends to the Winkie Country to kill the Wicked Witch of the West.
