Taking out the trash is an inevitable task in any household, and many people prefer to install a garbage compactor to simplify the process. A household garbage compactor is a garbage can with steroids, as it converts about six garbage bags into a 30-pound bag. This means you only have to take out the trash once a week instead of every day. Free-standing trash compactors are ideal for those who already have a fully finished kitchen, as they don't require any remodeling.
Garbage compactors can help reduce the volume of household waste by up to 75 percent, and they also offer additional benefits such as controlling odors. Trash compactors were popular in the '50s and '60s, but failed to really take off as a staple in the kitchen. Nowadays, it's even common to have two garbage compactors in the kitchen, one for garbage and one for recycling. Convertible garbage compactors can be installed as standalone units or under the counter, and they have been renewed in terms of design and functionality to adapt to a modern and economical lifestyle.
For appliance consumers, the garbage compactor was important in the late 20th century process of “distancing” Americans from the unsightly consequences of their own consumption. Typical examples of what can be placed in a garbage compactor are cartons of milk, cereal and eggs; empty cans of coffee and beverages; all kinds of jars and glass bottles; rags and large meat bones. The shredding mechanism then compresses the garbage in the compactor until it is a fraction of its original size. By compressing six garbage bags into one, it also helps to keep the house more tidy, especially if you can't take the trash out to the outside container every day. There's a new Broan model with a door that opens to the outside, making it easy to access the trash.
While sales of kitchen trash compactors have declined over the years, they still offer many benefits for households looking for an efficient way to manage their waste.
