Yes, but not automatically. Separate compartments in public trash bins can be effective, but only when the system is simple and well maintained. In a busy public space, people are usually making a quick decision, so the bins need to be obvious at a glance. Clear color coding, simple icons, and openings shaped for specific items—like a round hole for bottles and cans—help a lot. If the labels are confusing, too wordy, or inconsistent with bins people use at home, contamination goes up fast.
The biggest problem is usually not the compartment itself but what ends up inside it. People in a hurry often toss coffee cups, food wrappers, or half-full drinks into recycling. If one compartment is full, they may use the wrong one. If the bins are dirty or poorly serviced, trust drops and behavior gets worse. So effective public recycling bins need frequent emptying, clear signage, and a design that makes the right choice easy in two or three seconds.
In my experience, two streams—recycling and general waste—work best in most public spaces. More than that often becomes too much to ask at a bin on a sidewalk or in a park. Separate compartments can be a useful visual cue and can capture clean bottles and cans, but they are not a magic fix. They work best as part of a consistent citywide system, with collection and sorting that actually keep the materials separate. Otherwise, the bins may look green and responsible while doing very little in practice.