That's a great and very practical question! For a standard outdoor trash can at a bus stop, you're typically looking at a capacity between 20 and 32 gallons.
Here’s the reasoning behind that range. A bus stop is a high-traffic area, but space is often limited. A can that's too small (like a small 10-gallon bin) will overflow quickly, creating litter and becoming an eyesore. On the other hand, a massive 50+ gallon dumpster-style bin is usually overkill, takes up too much sidewalk space, and can be difficult and heavy for maintenance crews to service efficiently.
The 20-32 gallon sweet spot offers a good balance:
* Adequate Capacity: It can handle the daily accumulation of coffee cups, snack wrappers, newspapers, and other small items from waiting passengers.
* Manageable Maintenance: This size is standard for municipal collections. Crews can typically lift and empty these bags or containers quickly without specialized equipment.
* Deterrence: A properly sized and regularly emptied bin discourages people from piling bags of household garbage next to it, a common problem with very large cans.
Ultimately, the "perfect" size can also depend on your specific location. A bus stop in a dense urban downtown might need a 32-gallon can emptied daily, while a suburban stop might do fine with a 20-gallon can emptied twice a week. The key is matching the can's volume to a sustainable collection schedule to keep the area clean.