That's an excellent and surprisingly 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. However, we can give you a very reliable range.
Typically, an empty 50-gallon plastic trash bin, the kind commonly used for residential and some commercial curbside collection, weighs between 18 and 25 pounds (8 to 11 kg). These bins are almost always made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a very durable yet relatively lightweight plastic designed to be moved by homeowners and sanitation workers.
If you're thinking of a heavier-duty commercial bin, perhaps one with wheels and a metal lifting bar, the weight can creep up toward 30 to 40 pounds (14 to 18 kg). These are built to withstand rougher handling.
For context, a classic 55-gallon metal drum, which is sometimes repurposed for waste, can weigh a hefty 45 to 50 pounds when empty. So, the plastic 50-gallon bin is the lightweight champion by design. The primary goal for manufacturers is to create a container that is strong enough to handle heavy trash and harsh weather but light enough for easy maneuvering on collection day. So, when you're rolling your bin to the curb, you're typically moving about 20 pounds of plastic before you even add a single bag of trash.