That's an excellent and practical question! In my experience working with municipal services, the expected lifespan of a typical urban trash can in a high-traffic environment is usually between 3 to 7 years. However, that's a broad range because "typical" covers a lot of ground.
The biggest factor is material. Heavy-duty stainless steel or coated galvanized steel bins, often seen in city centers or transit hubs, can last toward the upper end of that range, even up to 10 years with good maintenance. Plastic or lightweight composite bins, while cheaper initially, may only survive 2-4 years in a truly high-footfall area before cracking, fading, or becoming damaged.
But traffic isn't just about people; it's about stress. Constant overfilling, harsh weather (sun, salt, rain), and most significantly, vandalism and misuse are the real lifespan killers. A bin that's used as a barbecue or has its liner set on fire might be a total loss overnight. Regular, aggressive cleaning with high-pressure hoses and chemicals also takes a toll on surfaces and moving parts like lids and hatches.
So, while the physical structure might last, the functional and aesthetic lifespan is often shorter. Cities now often plan for a 5-year replacement cycle for core areas, budgeting not just for broken bins, but for updating designs to be more robust, user-friendly, and visually cohesive. It's less about the bin completely disintegrating and more about it becoming too costly to repair, clean, or looking too shabby for the public space it serves.