Very few cities dump their trash bags directly on the side walk for pickup. I can't think of anywhere besides NYC that isn't capable of using a trash bin/dumpster. Pretty sure if the city provided containers people would use them.

I’ve seen it in Philly, Boston, and Chicago - they’re just smaller cities

As someone who lives in NYC, we have a serious trash problem.

Like, being young and naive once I thought "that's just how cities are!" but having traveled the world, most cities are NOT like New York.

In my neighborhood there is trash pick up 3 days a week. Some houses on my block (2-3 family buildings) will throw out something like 6-20 bags of trash a week. YES seriously.