Yes—but usually not the ordinary bin on the corner. Some cities and public venues do use special urban trash bins that separate liquids from solids, especially in places where people often throw away half-full drink cups: airports, stadiums, food courts, festivals, transit stations, campuses, and busy pedestrian areas. These bins are not everywhere yet, but they are a real niche solution.
The basic design is fairly simple. A perforated tray, sloped grate, or draining shelf lets leftover liquid flow down into a sealed collector, while the solid waste stays in a removable liner or upper chamber. Some models include a separate “pour out your drink” station before the waste opening, so people can empty cups first. Others use multi-chamber setups with one section for liquids and another for cups, lids, and general waste. A few “smart” public bins also add sensors or weight monitoring to alert staff when the liquid reservoir needs emptying.
The main benefits are practical. Separating liquids reduces leaks, smells, and messy spills; it can make bins lighter and easier to service; and it helps keep recyclable materials drier and less contaminated. That matters in public spaces, where wet waste quickly turns a normal bin into a smelly problem.
But these bins are not a simple fix. They cost more, need frequent cleaning, and require staff to empty and sanitize the liquid collector. If they are not maintained well, they can clog or become just as unpleasant as standard bins. Public behavior matters too: people have to notice and use the liquid section correctly.
So the short answer is yes, liquid-solid separating trash bins exist in urban settings, but they are usually specialized public waste bins rather than a standard street bin. If you are looking into them for a city, venue, or campus, check whether local waste services can handle the extra cleaning and maintenance—because that is what makes or breaks this kind of system.