Whether or not your home produces the national average of six pounds of waste per week, a trash compactor is still an appliance that will preserve your household’s hygiene for years. On top of eliminating odors, trash compactors reduce your waste 75 percent more than a traditional trash can. That means fewer plastic bags, fewer trips to the curb, and more savings in your pocket. Designed to suit your needs, trash compactors can be manufactured as freestanding cans you can place wherever it is most convenient. In addition, there are built-in trash compactors you can install within your cabinetry for a streamlined appearance. We’ve analyzed the market and have established the best trash compactors for your home. Check out how they’ll serve you below.
At a Glance:
Why Should I Buy a Trash Compactor?
What Are the Best Trash Compactors?
What to Consider Before Buying
Are Trash Compactors Worth It?
On top of creating more space and making your bulky waste smaller, here are some perks to investing in a trash compactor.
Eco-Friendly Waste
You may not consider yourself an eco-friendly feen but striving to reduce your waste footprint is never a bad thing. If you are looking to go green and produce less waste, these appliances are an excellent choice.
Here are five ways a trash compactor is eco-friendly:
- Reduces the volume of garbage in landfills
- Contributes to less water and ground pollution
- Reduces gas relating to garbage pickups
- Provides more capacity to hold trash in one compartment
- Reduces monthly necessity for buying plastic garbage bags
Odorless Trash
Who loves it when you walk into the kitchen and can smell the lingering odor from last night’s dinner? No one. A trash compactor will not only save you money but can also help with those pesky smells. Many models incorporate an air freshener option or a compartment for charcoal filters.
Save Money Over Time
As we’ve touched on, a trash can compactor saves you money. Although the upfront cost of a trash compactor may be more than a Walmart-bought trash can, you’ll save extra bucks in your bank account in no time. The average cost of trash bags is roughly twelve dollars a pop, which may not sound like a big investment, but these purchases add that up over the years and you’re wasting valuable money.
On top of that, California is infamous for its inflated waste management rates. The cost of trash pickups can be a steep $100 just to get rid of your garbage and recycling. Having more space to throw daily waste away results in fewer trips to the curb, significantly reducing pickup rates.
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Which Type of Trash Compactor is Best for You?
There are two main types of compactor trash cans you can look have in your home.
Freestanding Trash Compactor Can
A freestanding trash compactor can replace your current trash can. Instead of having a can that only takes in so much waste, a freestanding trash compactor can reduce your solid trash up to 75 percent more. By using your body weight, you can press down on a compacting mechanism connected to the lid and watch as your trash nearly disappears. If you have back problems or feel you would be unable to press your trash down, this may not be your best option.
Built-In Trash Compactor
If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy having your trash can out in the open, an under-the-counter trash compactor is an excellent choice. Built-in trash compactors integrate into your kitchen cabinetry and can be featured as panel-ready or as a trendy finish. Most of the time, under-counter trash compactors are automatic, making it even easier to smoosh your trash into a tight cube. These compactors typically take only 30 seconds to finish the job leaving you with more time and space.
The Best Built-In Trash Compactors for Your Home
We’ve analyzed two of the best built-in trash compactors on the market. The following recommendations come from our friends at BrandSource. Availability of products is not guaranteed.
1. GE Profile Undercounter Trash Compactor (UCG1520NSS)
This appliance is the best trash compactor choice for us because it fits flush with cabinetry, reduces odors, and reduces 75 percent of waste on each compression. With this GE Profile trash compactor, you can easily use 2,300 pounds of ram force to quickly compact waste in 30 seconds. Also, a lock and start control feature will prevent any wondering little fingers from getting hurt.
What It Offers:
- Sits flush with cabinetry
- Takes less than 30 seconds to compress trash
- Automatic anti-jam feature
- 75% compression rate
2. KitchenAid Built In Kitchen Trash Compactor (KTTS505ESS)
Our next top trash compactor choice allows you to fit five bags of banana peels and cereal boxes into one. This compactor will save you money on bags, reduce your waste footprint, and will give you more time to enjoy mouthwatering smells rather than old odors. Also, this KitchenAid trash compactor provides you with the Whisper Quiet Plus feature, so your home is continually quiet while the compactor is running.
What It Offers:
- Automatic anti-jam feature
- Charcoal Filters
- Whisper Quiet Plus
- 80% compression rate
What to Consider Before Buying a Compactor
If you’re interested in buying a trash can with compactor features, there are a few things to consider before bringing one home.
Features
Depending on the needs of your home and lifestyle will affect the features that you may need to look for.
- Compression Force
On average, a trash compactor uses anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 pounds of force. If you have little ones running around, you may want to consider the dangers that could entail if a finger or toy gets stuck in the trash. If your family doesn’t use a lot of bottles or cans that take more force to be crushed, you’ll be okay with a minimum compaction force.
- Anti-Jam Sensors
It’s no surprise that the issue trash compactors stir up is the occasional jammed cereal box. Many premium models showcase an anti-jam sensor that eliminates these times. If you don’t want to be digging around in day-old scraps, this is an excellent feature!
- Air Fresheners
When loading all your waste from the day into a can, the odor can become… well, smelly. Many models now feature an air freshener compartment or a charcoal filter to eliminate these unpleasant fragrances. Since trash will stay in the can for longer than if you didn’t have a compactor (due to more space for more trash), you don’t want this appliance to smell up your kitchen.
Maintenance for Trash Compactors
Compactors are relatively maintenance-free, as most models are equipped with anti-jamming technology and compartments that neutralize odors.
Follow these steps if your compactor needs a little extra love:
- If your trash compactor is automatic (not manual), make sure the appliance is unplugged.
- Remove the bin or caddy and review the manual’s cleaning instructions.
- Vacuum inside of the bin.
- Use soapy, warm water to clean the inside and outside of the bin. Rinse and dry.
- If applicable, occasionally replace the charcoal filter or air freshener.
FAQs:
Let’s review a few remaining questions.
What can you not put in a trash compactor?
You should avoid inserting your extremities into a trash compactor, including your hands or feet. You should never keep gas or other flammable materials in close proximity to a trash compactor.
Is a trash compactor the same as garbage disposal?
A trash compactor is meant to address all residential trash while the garbage disposal is meant only for food waste.
Is a trash compactor installation complicated?
We advise an expert to install your trash compactor, but you can also do it on your own. You’ll need to make sure your built-in conversion is completed and that you have the correct electric connection.
If you’re on a budget, a freestanding trash compactor is a great option. Ranging around $200 you will save money and energy in the long run. In contrast, if you have a few extra dollars to spend and are looking for a flushed look, a built-in trash compactor is the way to go!
Why Trust Aztec Appliance?
Since 1972, Aztec Appliance has been offering quality sales and service for name-brand appliances. Our mission is to not only help you achieve all your appliance dreams, but we also want to bring value to your home beyond materialistic amenities. Our team is an authentic group of people dedicated to our work, and we share the same undeniable passion for people and serving them the best we can. Suffice it to say, we know appliances.
Whether it’s a first birthday, a backyard wedding, or a retirement celebration, our hope is to give you the opportunity to enjoy life’s little moments. After all, memories are not consigned to the big moments — they exist within the little ones. And you can rest assured our inventory of top-performing kitchen, laundry, and outdoor appliances will help you spend less time keeping the home and more time with the people who make it home.
Shop Trash Compactors at Aztec
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and shop trash compactors online for the guaranteed lowest price at Aztec. Check out Aztec Appliance reviews, and if you have questions, our friendly product experts are always happy to help you find the best trash compactor for your home — whether you call us at 858-987-5777 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by our Aztec Appliance San Diego showroom located at the heart of downtown. Visit us today!
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