I’d treat this as a small planning exercise rather than a one-off purchase. Start by walking the shopping district at different times of day and mapping where litter actually builds up: store entrances, coffee shops, bus stops, seating areas, and food-court exits usually tell you more than a general foot-traffic estimate. Note how full the current bins are at peak times and how often they are emptied. The right size is really a balance between capacity, pickup frequency, sidewalk space, and how people use the bin.
For a shopping district, I’d look at capacity in liters or gallons, but I wouldn’t choose by capacity alone. A 40–80 L bin can work well on lighter side streets or near small shops, while 80–120 L is often a practical starting point for busy pedestrian routes. Larger 120–240 L containers can make sense only where pickup is frequent, the pavement footprint is generous, and the bin is serviced by the right lifting equipment. If a large bin is emptied only once a week, it can become a pest and overflow problem; a smaller bin emptied daily is often better.
Also check the opening and height. A wide, clearly marked opening helps people use the bin correctly, but it shouldn’t be so large that it invites household waste. The bin should be easy for cleaners to line, empty, and wipe down, and it must not narrow the accessible clear path on the sidewalk. Confirm with your waste contractor what liner sizes and lifting systems they support before you buy.
My practical approach is to run a short pilot: place two or three candidate sizes in high-use spots, track fill levels for a couple of weeks, and compare overflow, litter, and servicing time. Then standardize on the smallest size that reliably handles peak waste with your pickup schedule. That usually gives you cleaner streets, fewer overflowing bins, and a better-looking shopping district without overbuilding your waste infrastructure.