That's a great question! It really depends on where you are, but if I had to pick one overall winner these days, I'd say various shades of green are still incredibly common worldwide. You see them everywhere in parks and along sidewalks. The reason is pretty straightforward: green blends well with natural environments like grass and trees, making the bins feel less intrusive in public spaces.
However, there's a strong and growing trend toward dark colors like charcoal gray, black, and deep brown, especially in more modern or urban-designed areas. These colors are chosen because they hide scuff marks, dirt, and general wear-and-tear much better than lighter colors. They give a cleaner, more sophisticated look for longer and require less frequent cleaning to appear maintained.
Don't forget about stainless steel! For high-traffic downtown areas, transportation hubs, and upscale districts, the sleek, metallic look of stainless steel bins is very popular. They project a modern, durable, and hygienic image, even though they show fingerprints and require polishing.
Bright colors are strategically used, too. You'll often see vibrant blues for recycling bins and sometimes bright reds or yellows for specific waste streams or to make a bin highly visible in a particular spot. The choice ultimately comes down to a balance of practicality (hiding dirt, durability), psychology (green for general waste, blue for recycling), and blending with or complementing the surrounding streetscape. So while forest green might be the classic choice, the palette for public bins is definitely expanding.