That's an excellent and very specific question. Yes, absolutely. Many modern cities are deploying public litter bins with intentionally designed small openings, often called "anti-litter" or "letterbox" bins. The primary goal is behavioral. By limiting the aperture to roughly the size of a drink bottle or a food wrapper, it physically discourages people from disposing of oversized household garbage bags, construction debris, or other large, improper items that quickly overflow the bin and create a mess.
This design tackles a common urban issue: the misuse of public bins for private waste disposal, which leads to overflow, scattered litter, and increased maintenance costs. You'll often see these bins in high-foot-traffic areas like parks, transit stations, and downtown streets. The small opening acts as a simple, constant reminder to dispose of waste properly—typically just the small items generated on-the-go.
It's part of a broader "nudge theory" approach in urban design, steering public behavior through subtle physical cues rather than just relying on signs. While effective for controlling litter volume, these bins are usually paired with regular, frequent collection schedules to prevent them from filling up too fast with the permitted small items. So, next time you see a bin with a slim slot, you're looking at a clever tool in the ongoing effort to keep our shared spaces cleaner.