That's a great and very practical question! As someone who's looked into municipal infrastructure, I can tell you that UV resistance is a major focus for manufacturers today. Most plastic urban trash cans are now made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene, which are inherently quite resistant to UV rays. However, "quite resistant" isn't enough for years of sun exposure. That's why quality bins are treated with special UV-inhibiting additives and pigments during the molding process. This treatment acts like a sunscreen, significantly slowing down the degradation process.
You'll notice that higher-end public bins resist fading, becoming brittle, and cracking for many years—often 5 to 10 years or more under direct sun. Cheaper, untreated plastics can fade and weaken in just a couple of seasons. So, while no plastic is completely immune forever, the good news is that properly manufactured urban trash cans are specifically engineered to be highly UV-resistant, making them a durable and cost-effective solution for cities. The key is choosing bins from reputable suppliers that specify UV-stabilized materials.