That's an excellent and very specific question. Yes, absolutely. You will find that many public spaces, parks, transit stations, and city centers are increasingly using waste and recycling bins with intentionally designed small openings.
The primary purpose is exactly as you surmised: to discourage people from improperly disposing of oversized trash bags, household garbage, or bulky items like pizza boxes or drink trays that should be handled separately. The smaller slot effectively limits what can be physically inserted, guiding users to deposit only individual, hand-held items like bottles, cans, food wrappers, and coffee cups.
This design serves several key functions. It helps maintain cleaner public areas by preventing bins from being overwhelmed and spilling over with large, messy bags. It reduces contamination in recycling streams, as the small opening makes it difficult to toss in non-recyclable bagged waste. Furthermore, it optimizes collection efficiency for maintenance crews, as the bins fill more predictably with appropriate waste.
So, when you see a bin with a narrow slot, it's not a design flaw—it's a thoughtful feature for better urban waste management and encouraging personal responsibility.