Honestly, there is no simple yes or no. In many city settings, lidded bins can get used more consistently—especially for food waste, smelly trash, or areas where rats and birds are a problem—because people see them as cleaner and less visually unpleasant. A lid also signals that the bin is maintained, which can encourage better behavior. But that only works if the lid is easy to use. If it is dirty, heavy, broken, or requires people to touch a grimy handle, many will skip it and drop waste beside the bin or use an open bin instead.
Open bins often win on convenience. At busy bus stops, food courts, and festivals, people want to toss something quickly without touching anything. That speed can make open bins appear “more used,” but it may also mean more overflow and litter. Lidded bins tend to perform best when they have a foot pedal, a wide opening, clear signage, and frequent cleaning. In quieter residential streets, a well-designed lidded bin can reduce odors and pests and may get more reliable use from local residents.
So the real answer is that lids can increase use when the design feels clean and effortless, but they can reduce use when they add friction. Open bins are not automatically worse; they are just more exposed to weather, pests, and visual clutter. The best urban bins—lidded or not—are the ones people can use in one second, understand at a glance, and trust to be emptied regularly.