Short answer: not always, but a lot of them do. In most cities you’ll see a mix. Large municipal bins, commercial dumpsters, and many curbside collection carts usually come with wheels—or at least heavy-duty casters—because they get packed with waste and need to be rolled to a truck safely. That’s especially true where collection crews use automated or semi-automated lifting systems.
Smaller public bins on sidewalks, in parks, or near transit stops are often fixed, bolted down, or designed without wheels. The reason is practical: wheels can make a bin easy to tip, steal, or roll into the street. Public bins also tend to be emptied by hand or with a truck mechanism that doesn’t require the bin itself to move far.
So whether an urban trash bin has wheels really depends on its job. A 120-liter residential wheelie bin? Very likely. A decorative street litter bin? Less likely. A large commercial container? Usually yes, with sturdy wheels or casters. If you’re choosing bins for a city or building, look at weight, pickup method, pavement quality, and safety. Wheels are great for heavy loads and smooth surfaces, but they need maintenance and can be a weak point if the bin is abused.