That's a great question, and something I've actually looked into before. Having used them daily in my office and seeing them on city streets, I can say most modern urban bin pedals hold up surprisingly well. The key is in the design. They're typically made from heavy-gauge stainless steel or reinforced polymer, mounted on a robust spring or pivot mechanism. This isn't your flimsy home kitchen bin pedal.
The real test is constant, sometimes forceful, public use. Good models use a simple, direct linkage—you press, the lid opens. Fewer moving parts mean less to break. The springs are designed for tens of thousands of cycles. You'll notice the most wear on cheaper bins where the pedal starts to feel loose or squeaky. For high-traffic areas, cities often spec bins with a reinforced pedal plate and a protective overhang to shield the mechanism from weather and direct kicks.
So, while nothing is indestructible, a well-made urban trash bin pedal is built to take a serious beating. The main failure point usually isn't the pedal itself, but the lid hinges or the internal linkage if debris gets jammed in it. Overall, they're a testament to simple, functional design made durable.