Short answer: yes, some urban trash cans are absolutely designed to make digging through them harder—but they usually deter rather than completely prevent it. In cities, public bins often have narrow openings, curved baffles, gravity flaps, or deep chutes that make it awkward to reach inside. Some have locked doors, tamper-resistant latches, or bag-securing systems so people cannot easily open them and pull things out. Others are enclosed “smart” bins or underground containers that hold waste out of reach until collection day.
You’ll also see designs focused on animals and weather, not just people. Rat-proof and raccoon-resistant bins often overlap with anti-scavenging features because a small, spring-loaded opening or a heavy lid makes it hard for both paws and hands to get in. That said, these bins are not perfect. Determined people can sometimes defeat them, and overly hostile designs can create problems for sanitation workers or people who rely on redeemable containers.
So the honest answer is: yes, anti-scavenging urban trash cans exist, and many cities use them. But they are usually part of a broader approach—better bin placement, more frequent collection, separate recycling streams, and sometimes public education—rather than a single magical can that stops everyone from digging.