That's a practical question many city dwellers consider when dealing with weekly waste collection. From my experience observing municipal services, standard collection trucks are designed to handle trash cans filled to their official capacity – typically around 32 gallons for most urban containers. The real concern isn't just volume but density. When cans become overstuffed, compressed waste can easily double the expected weight, potentially exceeding the 50-75 pound limit that's comfortable for both automated arms and sanitation workers.
I've noticed that the tipping point often comes when you can no longer securely close the lid. If you're forcing trash down or items are spilling over the edges, you're likely approaching problematic weight levels. Municipal trucks have mechanical limits too – their compacting mechanisms work best with properly filled containers rather than overloaded ones that might damage equipment.
What works well is distributing heavier items across multiple collection days or using additional cans if available. Remember that waterlogged waste from rain significantly increases weight, so keeping cans covered matters. Your local waste department typically provides specific weight guidelines, but as a general rule, if you struggle to wheel your can to the curb, it's probably beyond what's optimal for collection equipment. Keeping containers at reasonable levels ensures efficient pickup while preventing potential damage to both trucks and your containers.