Thread: Trash Compactors...???

On 6-Oct-2009, "Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green trash
> compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>
> Are they still around, or...???
>
> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps'
> garages
> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...

I still have mine (white metal panel showing, from a selection of 6 colors);
but, popularity must be way down because finding bags in a retail store, for
example Sears, is getting difficult. On the other hand, they are available
from Amazon, shipping included, at a better price than Sears.

I would not buy a new one now; but, there was a time when four of us
generated a lot of trash and the city didn't like to pick-up more than 3
bags twice/week. Now, there are two of us, we recycle a lot and only fill
up a bag a week or so. In a year or so, our community is going to
single-stream recycling and compacting may or may not be usable. Once the
compactor is not longer used, I'll just let it sit in-place to fill the hole
in the cabinet lineup, since there is no way I could a matching cabinet to
fill the space.
--
Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

On Tue 06 Oct 2009 09:09:26p, l, not -l told us...

>
> On 6-Oct-2009, "Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
>> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green
>> trash compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>>
>> Are they still around, or...???
>>
>> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps'
>> garages or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>
> I still have mine (white metal panel showing, from a selection of 6
> colors); but, popularity must be way down because finding bags in a
> retail store, for example Sears, is getting difficult. On the other
> hand, they are available from Amazon, shipping included, at a better
> price than Sears.
>
> I would not buy a new one now; but, there was a time when four of us
> generated a lot of trash and the city didn't like to pick-up more than 3
> bags twice/week. Now, there are two of us, we recycle a lot and only
> fill up a bag a week or so. In a year or so, our community is going to
> single-stream recycling and compacting may or may not be usable. Once
> the compactor is not longer used, I'll just let it sit in-place to fill
> the hole in the cabinet lineup, since there is no way I could a matching
> cabinet to fill the space.

We had trash compactors in two previous houses. Both of ours were built in
with wood panel fronts that match our cabinets. It was very helpful then
because our trash pickup was only once a week with a limit of one
container. Our current community also does not have recycling, but our
pickup is twice weekly with a limit of two containers. The containers are
provided by the refuse collection company and are quite large.

Having said that, trash typically is often very bulky, high compressable
and does benefit from compacting, even in communities where recycling is
required, especially if normal pickup is limited and/or charged by
container.

Our bigger issue is food refuse, as we have a septic system and are
concerned about installing a garbage disposal. Since we live in the desert
and have desert landscaping, we have no reason to compost. Food scraps are
allowed in our regular trash pickup, but it's hard to eliminate the odors,
especially in our high temperature summers. We started freezing packages
of food scraps until the pickup days, then throw them in at the last
minute.

--

~~ If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. ~~

~~ A mind is a terrible thing to lose. ~~

************************************************** ********

Wayne Boatwright

Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green trash
> compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>
> Are they still around, or...???
>
> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps' garages
> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>
>

I have one - in the 2 family I bought this spring. I had lived in the
lower unit but decided to move upstairs when we bought because the
kitchen was slightly more updated. I don't use it though and I am
waiting patiently for my husband to remove it. I could use the space for
storage.


Tracy

On Oct 6, 10:23*pm, Wayne Boatwright <wayneboatwri...@arizona.usa.com>
wrote:
>
>
> Our bigger issue is food refuse, as we have a septic system and are
> concerned about installing a garbage disposal. *Since we live in the desert
> and have desert landscaping, we have no reason to compost. *Food scrapsare
> allowed in our regular trash pickup, but it's hard to eliminate the odors,
> especially in our high temperature summers. *We started freezing packages
> of food scraps until the pickup days, then throw them in at the last
> minute.
>
You could compost in order to put in a small raised bed for tomatoes
or chiles. It really can be done in a way that wastes minimal water.
One 2'x2' bed can provide oodles of tomatoes. The freezing thing
could still be used for meat scraps, and I think you could pretty
safely rinse raw chicken kidneys down the drain w/o a disposal.
>
> * * * * * * * * * * *Wayne Boatwright

--Bryan

"l, not -l" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:hah45f$ffp$[email protected]..
>
> On 6-Oct-2009, "Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
>> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green
>> trash
>> compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>>
>> Are they still around, or...???
>>
>> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps'
>> garages
>> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>
> I still have mine (white metal panel showing, from a selection of 6
> colors);
> but, popularity must be way down because finding bags in a retail store,
> for
> example Sears, is getting difficult. On the other hand, they are
> available
> from Amazon, shipping included, at a better price than Sears.
>
> I would not buy a new one now; but, there was a time when four of us
> generated a lot of trash and the city didn't like to pick-up more than 3
> bags twice/week. Now, there are two of us, we recycle a lot and only fill
> up a bag a week or so. In a year or so, our community is going to
> single-stream recycling and compacting may or may not be usable. Once the
> compactor is not longer used, I'll just let it sit in-place to fill the
> hole
> in the cabinet lineup, since there is no way I could a matching cabinet to
> fill the space.

Our community does single stream recycling now, and I could see the
usefulness of having a trash compacter for our recycling instead of our
trash. Between what gets recycled and what gets composted, very little makes
it to the trash cans any more. We put out one 35 gallon can a week now and
it is rarely really full. However, our 65 gallon recycling bin is frequently
overflowing. Compacting would certainly help that.

Hmmm, maybe pick up one used and install it in the garage...

Jon

I still use one - no idea how old it is - came w/ house - it has its
uses.

The bags are still avail. at Kmart - I empty it abt ev. 3 months, so a
box of ten seems to last forever. With recycling, not much goes into
it - cellophane wrappers e.g.--

If it dies tho - it won't be replaced. Not even sure if you can stil
buy them. I'll use it as a bin for maybe rarely used metalware like
cookie sheets? Quien sabe. "Cross that bridge....."

Zeppo said...

>
>
> "l, not -l" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:hah45f$ffp$[email protected]..
>>
>> On 6-Oct-2009, "Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
>>> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green
>>> trash
>>> compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>>>
>>> Are they still around, or...???
>>>
>>> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps'
>>> garages
>>> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>>
>> I still have mine (white metal panel showing, from a selection of 6
>> colors);
>> but, popularity must be way down because finding bags in a retail
>> store, for
>> example Sears, is getting difficult. On the other hand, they are
>> available
>> from Amazon, shipping included, at a better price than Sears.
>>
>> I would not buy a new one now; but, there was a time when four of us
>> generated a lot of trash and the city didn't like to pick-up more than
>> 3 bags twice/week. Now, there are two of us, we recycle a lot and only
>> fill up a bag a week or so. In a year or so, our community is going to
>> single-stream recycling and compacting may or may not be usable. Once
>> the compactor is not longer used, I'll just let it sit in-place to fill
>> the hole
>> in the cabinet lineup, since there is no way I could a matching cabinet
>> to fill the space.
>
> Our community does single stream recycling now, and I could see the
> usefulness of having a trash compacter for our recycling instead of our
> trash. Between what gets recycled and what gets composted, very little
> makes it to the trash cans any more. We put out one 35 gallon can a week
> now and it is rarely really full. However, our 65 gallon recycling bin
> is frequently overflowing. Compacting would certainly help that.
>
> Hmmm, maybe pick up one used and install it in the garage...


It's been forever that the township and trash pick-up contractors won't
allow compacted trash. Problem is you put out a 50lb. block of compacted
trash and it's pretty much guaranteed to damage the garbage truck's
internal compacting mechanics.

Andy

>
>
> It's been forever that the township and trash pick-up contractors won't
> allow compacted trash. Problem is you put out a 50lb. block of compacted
> trash and it's pretty much guaranteed to damage the garbage truck's
> internal compacting mechanics.
>
> Andy

Ah, I didn't know that.

Jon

Zeppo said...

>
>>
>>
>> It's been forever that the township and trash pick-up contractors won't
>> allow compacted trash. Problem is you put out a 50lb. block of compacted
>> trash and it's pretty much guaranteed to damage the garbage truck's
>> internal compacting mechanics.
>>
>> Andy
>
> Ah, I didn't know that.
>
> Jon


Jon,

One can only imagine the state-of-the-art in garbage trucks has advanced
since way back when but home trash compacting is still not allowed in my
township.

Not to mention, I'd be challenged to lift a 50lb block of garbage out of a
kitchen compactor and then haul it up the driveway to the curb without
throwing out my back, once, twice or thrice.

Best,

Andy

"Gregory Morrow" wrote:
>
>Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
>kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green trash
>compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>
>Are they still around, or...???
>
>Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps' garages
>or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...

Install this free shareware:
http://www.supershareware.com/info/compact-zip.html

Then plug your old compactor into a serial port, choose your brand
from the drop down menu, ie. GE, and press Ctrl/Alt-Delete twice...
they self-compact into a butt plug. Send it to Duh'Weenie and that
night click Un-Do! LOL

brooklyn1 wrote:

> "Gregory Morrow" wrote:
>>
>> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
>> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green
>> trash compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>>
>> Are they still around, or...???
>>
>> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps'
>> garages or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>
> Install this free shareware:
> http://www.supershareware.com/info/compact-zip.html
>
> Then plug your old compactor into a serial port, choose your brand
> from the drop down menu, ie. GE, and press Ctrl/Alt-Delete twice...
> they self-compact into a butt plug. Send it to Duh'Weenie and that
> night click Un-Do! LOL


;-P


--
Best
Greg

On Oct 6, 10:22*pm, "Gregory Morrow" <noo...@npuppp.fr> wrote:
> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green trash
> compactor. *IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>
> Are they still around, or...???
>
> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps' garages
> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>
> --
> Best
> Greg

I think recycling and composting kind of took over most of what the
compactor did. I could be wrong about that, but it seems logical.

N.

Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green trash
> compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>
> Are they still around, or...???
>
> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps' garages
> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>
>


We replaced ours about 20 years ago when the original died but we never
used either one. The new one has always been roll-out storage for
cookie sheets, muffin tins, and cooling racks and it works great for
that. We're having the kitchen remodeled later this month and the
cabinet guy made sure we'd have a cabinet for that kind of storage.

In my search for appliances, I think I have seen only one on the display
floor.

gloria p

On 7-Oct-2009, Andy <[email protected]> wrote:

> It's been forever that the township and trash pick-up contractors won't
> allow compacted trash. Problem is you put out a 50lb. block of compacted
> trash and it's pretty much guaranteed to damage the garbage truck's
> internal compacting mechanics.

We use better trucks here in STL. Heck, garbage trucks around here are huge
compactors themselves.

Our garbage trucks are also used one day per week to pick up yard waste,
including cut-up trees in tied bundles 3 feet wide and 18 inches in
diameter; a bundle of those can weigh as much as one of my full compactor
bags.
--
Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

In article <[email protected]> ,
"Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green trash
> compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>
> Are they still around, or...???
>
> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps' garages
> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...

Walk around in Center City Philadelphia and you can find solar powered
trash compactors on many streets.

On Wed, 7 Oct 2009 04:09:26 GMT, "l, not -l" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Once the
>compactor is not longer used, I'll just let it sit in-place to fill the hole
>in the cabinet lineup, since there is no way I could a matching cabinet to
>fill the space.

What a waste of space that will be.

The hole where your trash compactor is will be a perfect tray storage
space. Doors are nice, but if you don't think that's an option -
there's nothing wrong with no door.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Stan Horwitz wrote:
> In article <[email protected]> ,
> "Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Trash compactors were once all the rage, about 30-odd years ago...yer
>> kitchen was not up-to-date without a harvest yellow or avocado green trash
>> compactor. IIRC some of them had wood butcher counter tops...
>>
>> Are they still around, or...???
>>
>> Over the years I've seen a number of old inoperative ones in peeps' garages
>> or such, they eventually were destined for the trash heap...
>
> Walk around in Center City Philadelphia and you can find solar powered
> trash compactors on many streets.

We have those on campus now. Kinda cool.

Tracy