Short answer: sometimes, but not usually in the way you might think. Most urban trash bins are not built with drainage holes for liquids. If you look at the typical public litter bin on a sidewalk, outside a shop, or on a transit platform, it usually has a solid bottom and a plastic liner or inner bucket. That design is intentional. Cities do not want coffee, soda, melted ice, or leaky food containers dripping out onto the pavement. A leaky bin can create stains, slippery spots, bad smells, and a mess that attracts pests.
That said, some outdoor waste bins do have small holes or perforations. You might see them in wire mesh bins, slatted park bins, or older open-air designs. But those holes are often there for rainwater and airflow, not for liquid trash. Without them, a bin can fill up with rainwater, become extremely heavy, rust faster, or become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. When those holes exist, liquid waste can sometimes drain out too, but that is more of a side effect than a carefully designed liquid management system.
Newer public litter bins often avoid drainage holes altogether. They may use sealed liners, leak-proof inner containers, or double-wall construction. Some have lids and smaller openings to keep rain out and stop people from dumping large bags of trash. Solar compacting bins are basically sealed machines, so they do not have drainage holes for liquids. When liquids do build up inside, sanitation workers usually deal with it during cleaning or by replacing the liner.
So, should urban trash bins have drainage holes for liquids? For normal street trash, usually no. Drainage holes can cause more problems than they solve: slip hazards, stains, odors, pests, and contaminated runoff. If the issue is rainwater, a better solution is a lid, a raised base, or a covered inner bin. If the issue is cleaning, a removable liner is easier to wash than a permanent hole. Specialized compost or organic waste bins may have drainage features, but those are not the same as ordinary city trash bins.
In short, the average urban trash bin does not have drainage holes for liquids. Some outdoor waste bins have holes for rain or airflow, but they are not primarily designed to handle liquid waste. If you see liquid leaking from a public bin, it is more likely a torn bag, a missing liner, or a bin that has not been emptied soon enough—not a built-in drainage system.