There isn’t one simple coldest temperature that covers every urban trash bin, because a bin is more than just a container. Its body, lid, hinges, wheels, locks, and liners all react to cold in different ways.
For most standard municipal plastic bins, I’d say the practical range is about -20°F to -30°F (-29°C to -34°C). Well-made bins using cold-weather-grade HDPE or similar tough polymers can often keep their shape and basic function down to around -40°F (-40°C). But “withstand” doesn’t mean “stay as tough as normal.” In deep cold, plastic becomes stiffer and more brittle. A bin can sit outside without breaking, yet crack if it’s dropped, hit by a truck arm, or slammed too hard.
Metal bins often handle very cold air better than plastic, but the weak points shift to the hardware. Hinges can freeze, locks can jam, rubber wheels can become brittle, and welds or mounting points can take extra stress. Salt and freeze-thaw cycles make things worse over time.
In real cities, the coldest workable temperature depends on the bin’s age, design, UV exposure, and how people handle it. A new cold-rated bin may be fine at -30°F, while an older bin with tired hinges and hard wheels may fail much sooner. For practical urban use, standard plastic bins usually manage roughly -20°F to -30°F, heavy-duty cold-rated bins can reach about -40°F, and below that they may survive while sitting still but should not be expected to take rough handling.