If you mean the normal wheelie bin that gets rolled out on a residential street, the quietest practical choice is a fully enclosed plastic bin with a soft-close lid, rubber wheels, and a fairly snug rubber gasket around the lid. I’d skip metal dumpsters or metal lids if noise is the main concern, because metal tends to echo and amplify every bump and slam.
The lid is usually the biggest culprit. A hard plastic lid that drops shut can make a sharp bang at 11 p.m., while a soft-close hinge or a rubber bumper slows the last few inches and takes most of the impact out. Rubber wheels matter too. Hard plastic wheels rattle and rumble over concrete and asphalt, especially when the bin is half empty. Rubber or soft-tread wheels make a surprisingly big difference.
For a residential street, I’d look for a bin that is fully enclosed rather than open-frame, so the contents don’t shift and clatter around. A plastic body is generally quieter than metal, and a lid that seats firmly without rattling in the wind is worth checking. If the bin sits on a rough gravel pad or uneven pavement, it will be noisier no matter what, so a smooth concrete pad helps a lot.
If your city allows them, semi-underground or underground containers are even quieter because there’s no big lid slamming at street level and collection is less frequent. But for a normal household wheelie bin, the best combo is simple: plastic body, soft-close lid, rubber wheels, tight-fitting lid, and a smooth spot to park it. That won’t make it silent, but it’s about as quiet as a residential street bin gets at night.