That's an excellent question that gets to the heart of urban infrastructure resilience. From my experience observing cities from Phoenix to Minneapolis, the performance truly depends on the material and design.
Modern public trash cans, especially in well-funded municipalities, are engineered for this. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the superstar here. It has a wide thermal operating range, typically from about -40°C to 60°C (-40°F to 140°F). In scorching heat, a quality HDPE bin won't melt or warp easily, though darker colors can become too hot to touch. In deep cold, it retains flexibility and resists becoming brittle and cracking, unlike cheaper plastics.
Metal bins, often stainless steel or powder-coated steel, handle heat well but can be problematic in cold, humid climates. The metal itself is fine, but if the coating is damaged, corrosion accelerates with freeze-thaw cycles. You might see more rust in northern cities.
The real weak points are often the mechanical parts: hinges, pedal mechanisms, and liner locks. These can seize up in cold or become stiff in heat. Progressive cities now use simple, robust designs with fewer moving parts for this reason.
So, while no bin is indestructible, the best contemporary models hold up surprisingly well. The key is proper material selection and minimalist design tailored to the local climate's specific extremes. It's a quiet triumph of municipal engineering that we often overlook until a component fails.