There’s no single magic number, but I’d start with 4–6 public trash bins per average shopping-district block. For a typical 100–150 m block with moderate foot traffic, that usually means one bin every 25–35 m, with at least one at each corner and extra bins near store entrances, food stalls, transit stops, seating areas, and taxi or rideshare pickup points. If the block is very busy—tourist areas, weekend markets, fast-food clusters—plan for 6–10 bins per block or use larger-capacity bins. On quieter side blocks, 2–4 may be enough.
The key is to match bin count to waste volume and servicing, not just block length. A block with coffee shops, takeaway food, and heavy foot traffic produces far more litter than a block of furniture stores. I’d also avoid simply adding more bins if collection is infrequent; that can create overflowing bins and more litter. Start with 4–6 per block, place them where people naturally pause or queue, and monitor overflow for two to four weeks. Then adjust up or down. If possible, pair every trash bin with a recycling option, and make sure collection frequency matches capacity. That approach is more reliable than a fixed one-size-fits-all rule.