That's an excellent question that many property managers and municipal planners struggle with. Getting the bin size right is crucial - too small and you'll have constant overflow issues; too large and you're wasting space and resources.
For a moderately busy street corner, I'd generally recommend starting with a 30 to 50-gallon capacity bin. This size typically handles the waste generated by daily pedestrian traffic without becoming overwhelming for maintenance crews to service. The key factors that will determine your exact needs include pedestrian traffic patterns throughout the day, whether there are nearby food establishments contributing to waste, and your collection schedule frequency.
Consider that a 30-gallon bin can accommodate roughly 90-120 plastic bottles or 60-80 food containers before needing emptying. If your street sees consistent foot traffic from commuters, shoppers, and nearby residents, leaning toward the 40-50 gallon range might be wiser. Also think about the physical space available - you want the bin to be noticeable and accessible without obstructing pedestrian flow.
Remember that placement matters as much as capacity. Positioning the bin where natural pedestrian pauses occur (near crosswalks, bus stops, or building entrances) will increase its usage efficiency. Regular maintenance is equally important - even the perfectly sized bin will create problems if not emptied consistently.
What's your specific collection schedule looking like? That might help narrow down the ideal capacity for your particular situation.