Short answer: sometimes, but it really depends on the city. In places with strong organics programs, you’ll see public bins or curbside carts labeled for compost, food scraps, or yard waste, separate from landfill and recycling. San Francisco, Seattle, and parts of Milan are often cited as examples where organic waste collection is taken seriously. But in many cities, street bins are still just landfill and maybe recycling—no compost stream at all.
The tricky part is that “compost” means different things in different systems. Some bins accept food scraps and yard trimmings; others also take certified compostable packaging, and many do not. Contamination is a huge issue, especially in public bins, because people often toss coffee cups or plastic wrappers into the wrong slot. That’s why some cities keep public bins simple and focus compost collection at homes, restaurants, and markets instead.
If you’re trying to sort correctly, look for clear labels, colors, and icons. Green often signals organics, but not everywhere. When a compost bin isn’t available, it’s usually better to put food scraps in the landfill bin than to contaminate recycling. So yes, urban trash bins that separate compost from landfill waste do exist—but they’re far from universal, and the rules can change from one block to the next.