Honestly, yes—stainless steel urban trash cans can scratch, but “easily” depends a lot on the finish and how the bin is used. A mirror-polished stainless body will show fine scratches, fingerprints, and scuffs quickly, especially on busy streets where people lean bikes, drag bags, or move bins during collection. A brushed or satin-finish body is much more forgiving: small scratches blend into the grain and are less noticeable from normal viewing distance. Powder-coated stainless bins also hide surface wear well, though the coating can chip if it gets hit hard.
Stainless steel is chosen for public bins because it resists rust and holds up outdoors, not because it is scratch-proof. Grit, salt, glass, metal buckles, and careless cleaning can all leave marks. That said, most scratches are cosmetic and do not weaken the bin or shorten its service life. For high-traffic sites, I’d choose a brushed finish, a textured surface, or a powder-coated design, and I’d clean it with soft pads and mild soap rather than steel wool or harsh abrasives. If a brushed bin does get scuffed, light hand-sanding along the grain can usually make it look decent again.