That's a great and surprisingly specific question! It really gets into the nitty-gritty of urban design. While there's no single mandated color worldwide, if you look at modern Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across many major cities in the US, Canada, and the UK, one color overwhelmingly dominates: a sleek, dark gray or charcoal black.
This isn't a random choice. BIDs are all about enhancing the area's appeal for businesses, residents, and visitors. The traditional, brightly colored or green municipal bins can look utilitarian and out of place in a curated, upscale shopping or commercial district. Dark gray/black offers a more sophisticated, neutral, and minimalist aesthetic. It helps the bins blend into the urban landscape—complementing concrete, pavers, and modern architecture—rather than sticking out as eyesores.
Functionally, dark colors are practical. They show less daily scuff marks and general wear and tear than lighter colors, maintaining a cleaner appearance for longer. This aligns with the BID's core mission of superior maintenance and cleanliness.
You will, of course, see variations. Some BIDs use dark green or navy for a slightly more traditional feel, while others might incorporate branded accents or wraps in their district's colors on a gray base. But for the standard, high-volume litter bin, the move toward a unified, upscale look has firmly established dark gray as the most popular and effective choice. It turns a simple piece of street furniture into a subtle tool for placemaking.