Short answer: they can hold up well, but it really depends on how they’re built and where they’re used. A mesh-sided bin is not automatically weak. The mesh actually helps with airflow, lets rain drain, keeps odors down, and makes it easier to see when the bin is full. In busy urban spots, that visibility can be useful.
The trouble starts when the mesh is too thin or the frame is flimsy. Most failures I’ve seen are not the mesh tearing in the middle—they’re at the welds, corners, hinge points, and where the mesh meets the frame. If a bin is spot-welded instead of fully welded, overloaded, dragged during collection, or kicked and pried at, those joints can crack. Once the coating is scratched, rust gets into the steel mesh and weakens it fast.
For a public bin to last, I’d look for a sturdy internal frame, thicker galvanized steel mesh, good welds, rounded edges, and a proper powder-coated finish. An inner liner also helps because it keeps wet waste and sharp items away from the mesh. Maintenance matters too: emptying before overload, fixing scratches, and replacing damaged parts early will add years.
So do they tear? Cheap decorative mesh bins often do, sometimes within months. Well-made mesh-sided urban bins can hold up for years. The mesh itself isn’t the problem—bad materials, weak joints, and neglect are.