In my town we have to have all non-recycle trash in translucent or transparent bags and those bags have to go into cans with snap-on lids. We don’t have automatic lifters for trash. We can have as many cans as we want as long as they have the correct transparency bags and snapping lids.
Our recyclables are non-sort and we were given the big auto-lift cans for recyclables.
In Worcester the residents are required to buy actual city of Worcester trash bags which are insanely expensive. They can just put the bags on the curb. They have to sort their recyclables.
Never in my life would it have occurred to me to put trash in the can without putting it in a bag first.
Single stream here too. Your wife is correct. We get a mailer once a year with the calendar for garbage, recycle and yard waste. It’s several pages long with all the do’s and don’t’s, most with explanations. We can put plastic lids, larger than 2" across.
Garbage must be bagged here, and kitty poo must be double bagged.
Seriously? Just pick up the trash can/basket, carry it to the bin and tip it in. It’s actually easier than pulling the bag out and hoping it doesn’t rip open before you get it outside.
Do you think it’s possible less garbage would be blowing around if all the garbage was in plastic bags when it went into the wheeled bin? I do. That’s one reason that is done here, in a windy place.