That's an excellent and practical question for any park manager or planner. Choosing the right capacity isn't about a single number, but finding the sweet spot between visitor convenience, maintenance efficiency, and budget. Here’s a natural, experience-based take on it.
First, forget a one-size-fits-all answer. A small neighborhood pocket park and a major metropolitan tourist destination have wildly different needs. The key is to match the can to the specific location's traffic.
For general pathways and medium-use areas, I consistently see 30 to 50-gallon cans work well. They're large enough to not overflow after a busy afternoon but small enough that a single maintenance staff can easily handle liner changes. They strike a good balance.
Now, for high-traffic zones—think near playgrounds, sports field entrances, food concession areas, or parking lots—you absolutely need to scale up. This is where 65 to 100-gallon containers become essential. These larger capacities prevent constant overflow on weekends and during events, which is the number one complaint from visitors. Nobody wants to see litter piled around a tiny, overflowing bin.
Here’s the real pro tip, though: Capacity is directly tied to your maintenance schedule. A 100-gallon can in a busy spot is useless if it's only emptied once a week. It will overflow and create a bigger mess. A smaller can emptied daily is often cleaner. So, ask yourself: How often can your team service this can? If it's daily, a 50-gallon might suffice for a busy spot. If it's twice a week, you likely need the 95-gallon.
Placement is the other half of the battle. Instead of one massive can, consider clustering two or three medium-capacity cans (with recycling!) in a hotspot. This spreads the load and gives people options.
Finally, always lean toward durable, commercial-grade cans with secure lids. They withstand weather, animals, and heavy use far better than residential models. Investing in proper capacity upfront saves money and labor on constant clean-up later.
So, my recommendation? Audit your park. Map out high, medium, and low-use zones. Pair that map with your realistic maintenance frequency. For most parks, a mix of 50-gallon cans for general areas and 95-gallon cans for major hubs, serviced regularly, is a winning and natural formula for a cleaner, more enjoyable public space.