Honestly, if I were choosing bins for a city that gets snow, ice, road salt, and freeze-thaw cycles, I’d go with high-density polyethylene, or HDPE, first. It’s the best all-round material for urban trash bins in harsh winters because it doesn’t rust, handles salt and moisture well, and flexes instead of cracking when temperatures drop—provided you buy a UV-stabilized, thick-walled grade with molded ribs. Cheap, thin plastic is where HDPE gets a bad name.
Powder-coated galvanized steel is a close second if vandal resistance or a more premium look matters. It’s rigid and holds up to rough handling, but chipped coatings invite rust, and road salt will find every scratch. Stainless steel is excellent in salt-heavy cities but usually too expensive for large-scale street bins.
I’d avoid plain concrete or wood in freeze-thaw climates unless the design is engineered for drainage and movement. Concrete is heavy and can spall; wood splits and rots. For most cities, HDPE with stainless-steel hinges and a lockable lid is the practical winner. Add drainage holes, rounded corners, and a dark color that hides winter grime, and you’ll get bins that survive winter after winter.