Yes, they do exist, but the honest answer is “it depends on the bin, the city, and what kind of waste it collects.” Some urban trash cans are designed to work without disposable plastic bag liners at all. They usually have smooth stainless steel, powder-coated metal, or sealed reusable inner containers that can be emptied directly into a collection truck and then washed. In the best cases, the design avoids sharp corners and seams where grime builds up, and the bin can be hosed out or steam-cleaned on a regular schedule.
That said, liner-free public waste bins are not simply a case of removing the bag and walking away. Plastic liners are common for a reason: they keep the can cleaner, make collection faster, reduce odors, and help contain wet or sticky waste. If a city wants to go liner-free, it needs a maintenance plan. That means frequent emptying, easy access for cleaning, good drainage, leak control, and staff or contractors who can wash the bins regularly.
Truly liner-free cans tend to work best in controlled settings: parks, campuses, transit stops, and streets with predictable waste streams and reliable servicing. They are less practical where food waste, rain, or messy mixed trash are common, unless the bin has a rigid inner bucket and a serious cleaning routine. So yes, urban trash cans without plastic liners are real—but they are a system, not just a different can. The design has to match the collection and cleaning reality of the city.