Yes — they do exist, though they’re still more of a niche design choice than a standard piece of city equipment. I’ve come across dual-purpose street bins that combine a waste compartment with a planter on top or around the sides. Some look like ordinary park planters; others are modular street furniture units with a bin tucked into one side and greenery on the other. There are also retrofit planter rings for existing bins, but those tend to be less practical because watering, drainage, and cleaning become tricky.
The idea works best when the bin and planter are designed as one system. The waste section needs a separate liner, a secure opening, and easy access for collection crews. The planter needs drainage, enough soil volume, and plants that can handle urban stress. If those details are ignored, you get soggy waste, root problems, or plants that die within a season.
They’re not perfect everywhere. In busy areas, people may mistake the planter edge for a bin, or the bin for a planter. Maintenance crews also need clear instructions, because watering and emptying are usually different departments. But when they’re well designed, these hybrid bins can reduce street clutter, add greenery where space is tight, and make ordinary infrastructure look a little friendlier. So yes — urban trash cans can be planters too, but the good ones are carefully engineered, not just a bin with a shrub dropped on top.