That's a great and very practical question! It's something I wondered about too when I first started taking out the trash for my apartment building. From my experience in several major cities, the answer is: it depends entirely on your local city's regulations.
Most standard public litter bins you see on street corners and in parks do typically use a standard size liner. Cities often buy large rolls of specific dimension bags (like 30-40 gallon sizes) to fit their standardized cans for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. You, as a resident, usually don't need to provide these for public bins.
However, for your own personal or building's curbside trash can that the city empties, the rule is different. You almost always need to use officially approved bags. Many municipalities have specific requirements. They might mandate:
* Using only bags purchased from the city (often with a printed logo or stamp).
* Using bags of a specific color (e.g., clear, blue, or orange) for waste sorting.
* A strict thickness requirement so bags don't rip during collection.
Using a non-compliant bag often means your trash won't be picked up. The best way to be sure? Always check your city's official sanitation department website. A quick search for "[Your City Name] trash bag requirements" will give you the definitive answer. It saves you from the hassle of a missed pickup!