You’re right to size this by service frequency, not just appearance. For a busy city sidewalk, I’d use a 55-gallon (about 208-liter) public trash bin as the default. It holds enough coffee cups, food wrappers, and bottles to get through peak foot traffic without constant overflow, but it’s still manageable for one person to bag and empty. If the sidewalk is extremely busy—near a transit stop, stadium, food hall, or tourist corner—I’d step up to 65–95 gallons (245–360 liters) or place two 55-gallon bins a short distance apart. Pairing bins often works better than one giant bin because people use what’s closest, and collection crews don’t have to wrestle a single heavy container.
If space is tight or the bin must fit beside a bench, doorway, or bike rack, a 35–45 gallon bin can work, but only if you can empty it at least twice a day during peak periods. A 32-gallon bin on a busy sidewalk usually becomes a litter problem by lunchtime. Don’t choose capacity in isolation: check the liner size, lid and opening design, and whether collection is daily. A 55-gallon bin emptied once a day can outperform a 95-gallon bin emptied every three days.
Also think about the physical footprint. Leave clear pedestrian clearance, keep it accessible for crews, and follow local streetscape or fire code rules. Heavy concrete bins look stable but need a plan for lifting; wheeled bins are easier to service but can move or tip if not secured. For busy sidewalks, the sweet spot is usually 40–55 gallons with daily service, moving to 65–95 gallons only where traffic and litter loads are consistently high. If you tell me your peak pedestrian count and how often collection can happen, I can narrow it down further.