Honestly, there isn’t one perfect number, because metal urban trash cans don’t all live under the same conditions. A realistic average for municipal metal bins is about 10 to 15 years. Powder-coated steel cans often last around 8 to 12 years in busy city areas, while good stainless steel models can stretch to 15 or even 20 years with decent care. Heavy-duty galvanized steel usually lands somewhere in the middle.
The biggest factors are the metal type, coating quality, climate, foot traffic, and maintenance. Constant exposure to rain, salt, pollution, and rough handling will shorten the lifespan, especially in coastal cities. A can that gets cleaned, checked for scratches, and touched up when the coating chips will usually last much longer than one that’s ignored.
So if you’re planning a city purchase, I’d budget for roughly a 10–15 year service life and choose stainless steel or well-coated steel if you want to push toward the longer end.