That's a great and often overlooked question! Cleaning the inside of a public urban trash can is a task that ranges from "surprisingly straightforward" to "quite a challenge," depending entirely on the situation.
For a relatively new bin that only has dry, lightweight litter like paper cups or flyers, cleaning can be simple. A custodian might just empty it, give it a quick brush-out, and wipe the rim. Many modern bins have removable liners or bags, which make this process much easier.
However, the reality for most city bins is messier. Liquids from half-finished drinks, sticky food residue, and decomposing organic waste create a much harder job. In these cases, a proper clean involves pressure washing with hot water and disinfectant. Maintenance crews often use long-handled brushes and industrial-grade cleaners to scrub the interior. For deeply soiled bins, they might be transported to a cleaning facility for a thorough steam clean.
The main challenges are the biohazards, unpleasant odors, and the sheer physical effort required. It's not a glamorous job, but it's a vital one for public health and reducing pests. So, while the process itself uses standard cleaning principles, the "ease" is low due to the nature of the waste. The best practice for all of us is to try to minimize liquid and food waste in public bins to make the sanitation workers' crucial job a little bit easier.