Yes—there are urban trash cans that can be chained to a pole, but in practice it is usually done with commercial outdoor bins, security kits, or retrofitted anchoring hardware rather than a simple chain wrapped around a standard bin. Many manufacturers offer outdoor trash cans with locking lids, tamper-resistant fasteners, and chain-and-lock or cable-anchor kits designed to secure the bin to a fixed object such as a pole, railing, or building column. Some models are also made to be bolted to the ground or mounted on a weighted concrete base, which is often more reliable than pole chaining alone.
If theft is the main concern, the pole itself needs to be sturdy and permanently fixed. A lightweight sign pole or loose post will not stop a determined thief. It is better to use a hardened chain, stainless steel cable, or proprietary locking anchor, and to protect the lock from cutting or picking. Chaining the lid separately can also help prevent lid theft or illegal dumping, but collection crews still need quick, safe access.
Pole-chained bins are common in parks, transit stops, shopping streets, and temporary public events where ground anchoring is difficult. However, for high-theft areas, municipalities often choose fixed-base bins with concealed locks and reinforced bodies. Before installing one, check local accessibility, fire-safety, and waste-collection rules, because a chained bin can become a hazard or slow down servicing if it is not positioned correctly. So the short answer is yes, such trash cans exist—but the best results come from purpose-built anti-theft hardware, not just an ordinary bin and a chain.