That's an excellent question! It's something many city dwellers wonder about during a storm. Modern urban waste management has come a long way, and handling heavy rain is a key design focus. Here’s how they manage it.
First, many newer public bins feature integrated drainage systems. Small, strategically placed holes or grates at the bottom of the inner liner allow collected rainwater to escape directly into the ground or a connected storm drain, preventing it from pooling inside with the trash.
Secondly, smart design and sealing play a huge role. Lids are often designed to be heavy or angled to stay closed in wind and rain, minimizing water intake. The crucial seal is around the trash bag itself. Many systems use a locking rim that holds the bag in place and creates a raised barrier, directing water away from the bag's opening and down the outside of the bin.
Furthermore, you'll notice that placement and elevation are intentional. Bins are rarely placed in the lowest point of a sidewalk. They are often on slightly elevated pads or stands, ensuring that general street runoff flows around them, not into them.
In some advanced cities, sensor-equipped "smart" bins take it further. They can compact waste on-site, creating more space and reducing the frequency of overflow. Their sealed design is inherently more waterproof, and some can even alert collection services if internal moisture levels get too high.
So, while no system is absolutely perfect in a torrential downpour, the combination of simple drainage, thoughtful waterproofing, and smart placement ensures our city bins handle typical heavy rainfall surprisingly well, keeping streets cleaner and preventing soggy waste from becoming a bigger problem.