That's an excellent and practical question! The weight of an empty 50-gallon urban trash bin isn't a single number, as it depends heavily on the material it's made from. Generally, you can expect an empty 50-gallon bin to weigh between 20 and 40 pounds (9 to 18 kilograms).
The most common material for residential and many commercial bins is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. A standard 50-gallon plastic trash bin, the kind often provided by municipal waste services for curbside pickup, typically weighs in the range of 20 to 30 pounds when completely empty. These are designed to be relatively lightweight so that homeowners can easily move them to the curb.
However, for more heavy-duty commercial or industrial use, you might find 50-gallon bins made from thicker, reinforced plastic or even galvanized steel. A metal bin of this capacity can easily weigh 35 to 45 pounds or more when empty, offering greater durability but at the cost of being much heavier to handle.
So, while the most common answer you'll encounter is around 25 pounds for a standard plastic model, always remember that the specific design and material will cause this weight to vary. It's always best to check the manufacturer's specifications if you need a precise weight for a particular model.