That's a great question! It really depends on where you live and your neighborhood's rules, but I've noticed some clear trends lately. For most suburban areas, dark, neutral colors are definitely the most popular choice for residential outdoor trash and recycling bins.
The top spot probably goes to dark green and forest green. It's the classic choice because it blends so well with landscaping and doesn't stand out too much. Right next to it is dark brown or earth brown. It has that same natural, camouflaging effect against fences, siding, and garden beds. You'll also see a lot of black and charcoal gray bins. They look sleek, modern, and tend to hide dirt and scuff marks better than lighter colors.
While you might see bright blue for recycling in some cities, for general trash at home, people usually avoid loud colors. The goal is often to make the bins less noticeable. Some homeowners' associations (HOAs) even have specific rules requiring dark-colored bins to maintain a uniform street appearance.
So, if you're choosing a new bin, you can't go wrong with a deep green, brown, or gray. It will likely match your neighbors' and keep the focus on your home, not your waste containers!