Yes, in most cities urban trash bins can be bolted or otherwise anchored to the ground to keep them from being tipped over, but the fix is not as simple as driving a few bolts into the pavement. It works best when the bin, base, and surface are chosen together. A bolt-on plate or floor anchor can be very effective on concrete sidewalks, plazas, and transit stops, while loose soil, paving stones, or thin asphalt may need a concrete pad or a weighted base instead.
Anchoring helps with wind, vandalism, and accidental knocks, and it keeps bins from blocking paths or rolling into traffic. But there are trade-offs. Bolted bins are harder for crews to move for cleaning, repairs, and collection, so you need service-friendly hardware, good drainage, and a plan for replacing damaged units. You also don’t want to create a trip hazard or make the bin unusable for people with disabilities.
In practice, many cities use a mix: bolted bins in high-traffic or windy spots, weighted bases in flexible locations, and interlocking or fixed-lid designs where tipping is a recurring problem. So the short answer is yes—bolting down can work well, but only with the right base, hardware, and maintenance access.