Yes, in most cities they absolutely can. Urban trash bins are often customized with stickers, stenciled paint, metal plates, or digital screens that show what goes in and what doesn't. The key is making the signage clear, durable, and appropriate for the location.
For a simple street bin, a couple of bold icons and words like "Trash" and "Recycling" may be enough. In busy areas, cities usually add more detail: accepted materials, contamination warnings, multilingual text, QR codes, or contact info. Accessible design matters too, so high-contrast colors, large type, and simple symbols help more people understand quickly.
Durability is a big deal outdoors. Rain, sun, graffiti, and constant touching can ruin cheap paper or vinyl labels. Powder-coated metal, UV-resistant decals, engraved plates, and replaceable panels tend to hold up better. Smart bins can rotate digital instructions, but they need power, connectivity, and maintenance.
There can also be local rules. Signage may need to follow waste regulations, accessibility standards, or city branding guidelines. If you're ordering custom bins, ask the manufacturer or city department what materials and messages are approved.
So yes — customized signage and instructions are very possible, and they're one of the easiest ways to make public bins cleaner, clearer, and easier to use.