That's an excellent and very practical question. It gets right to the heart of what makes modern public infrastructure reliable. The direct answer is: it depends entirely on the material they are made from. Traditional, cheap plastics can indeed become brittle and crack in freezing cold or warp in intense heat. However, today's high-quality urban trash cans are specifically engineered to handle these extremes.
The key lies in advanced polymer science. Manufacturers now use materials like:
* High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Often cross-linked for extra strength, it remains flexible down to about -50°C (-58°F) before becoming brittle.
* Polypropylene Copolymer: Known for excellent impact resistance even at low temperatures.
* UV-Stabilized Compounds: These additives prevent the molecular breakdown caused by prolonged sun exposure, which can lead to fading and weakening.
So, while a flimsy bin might shatter, a properly manufactured urban trash can is designed to remain ductile in a deep freeze and resist deformation in a heatwave. It's a critical specification that cities and contractors evaluate when purchasing, ensuring public bins don't become a hazard or need constant replacement. When you see a robust, seemingly indestructible public litter bin, you're likely looking at the result of deliberate material engineering for temperature resilience.