Moved in to our house with a broken TC, so never actually used one.
BUT, the idea of leaving several days worth of stinky garbage around doesn't appeal to me. Plus, compacted garbage must be mighty heavy when you want to take it out. I'd take a pass...

Used to have one decades ago. Summer house in the woods so compaction seemed like good idea. Near-total PIA in my opinion. Never again.

It did perform and didn't break -- no complaints that way. However, our emptying of the bin was governed by smell, not by volume. Benefit was far outweighed by inconvenience and odor. We tried to do it right. Rinsed and cleaned everything...or so we thought. Beyond a few days, it doesn't matter. There's always some residual and it WILL smell.

Unless overall volume is a really big deal for you, I would recommend against. Unless you intend to empty it every day, I would recommend against.

It may also depend on your volume. I used one for quite a while. It never got completely full for some time. Hence I learned to not put wet items into it. All the possibly-stinky stuff went out in other trash or down the GD.

But when it got full, the bags were heavy.

Now that I can do recycling of plastics, glass, metals and paper, I don't really need it. I would guess that %50+ of my trash goes to recycling. That would mean that the stuff in the TC would stay around a while until it filled up.

Clarification, then -- that "recycle-type" stuff. We didn't put garbage in it.....only cleaned (we thought) containers. Pretty much what we would call "recycle" stuff today. That stuff you put down the GD never went in there. Talking basically "dry" trash...cans, cartons, foam packages, etc....nothing that could go down GD.

It smelled anyway. Say again, there's always some residual. It IS going to smell.

Thanks everyone. We'll rethink this one further. In any event, we will have better undercounter organization for more recycling containers in the new kitchen.

Only yea if your local jurisdiction charges you by the trip to drop off your garbage rather than by weight or volume.

I've had a trash compactor since 1985 when we enlarged the kitchen and I loved it. Of course that was before our town recycled and with 3 kids and 3 dogs it got a lot of use. When it died in 1997 I replaced it.

Now the kids are on their own and we recycle as much as possible. I only empty my compactor every other week. We never put smelly items inside, even when we emptied it 2x a week. Now it's mostly non-recycled plastic containers that have been rinsed, pizza boxes, plastic wrap, Dunkin Donut paper coffee container, napkins, paper towels, waxed paper etc.

If this one dies I won't replace it. But if I were limited to a certain size trash can or had to pay by the can for trash removal or haul it to the dump myself then I would replace it.

I just installed one in my kitchen. I like that I don't have to take out the garbage every day. In fact I ran out of bags last week and kept compacting into week 2 and there's still room in there (barely). Luckily trash day is Thursday - LOL

It's a little smelly, but some models have a filter or place to put a deodorizer (check out KitchenAid). I really don't notice the smell until I open it though.

Most food waste we put down the disposer. Some folks compost.

I put a small waste can under the sink for recycling and I line it with a plastic garbage bag.

After 14 years of "pushing" down garbage, I love it and my kids like to keep the trash compacted now.

We have had a trash compactor since 1985, in our new renovation we will not be replacing it. First of all trash disposal has changed, in our area we recycle much more. Garbage goes down the garbage disposal or into a garbage can in the garage. Unless you put nothing that can rot into the tc there will be odor. I think that it is important to follow the directions and protect the compacting ram by layering newspaper on top of the stuff being compacted. That adds mass and is just one more step. The ram needs to be cleaned periodically, I don't find that fun. We will have double trash pull out containers, however since I think the compactor may be used as a stand alone unit I am considering using it in the garage. We will see on that one.

Yea :)
Yes we have one, yes we like it and yes we use it. We've had our since the kitchen remodel in 2002. You learn. You learn what to put in it (like any other trashcan) and what not to. What to wrap up, put under something else, make sure you don't have food on top when you smash the trash. I really don't see how it's any different than any other trash can except you can get more in it. Our trash pickup is once a week and the tc is usually full. I gather the trash from other trash cans around the house and put it in a small trash bag. We live in the country and don't have recycling. Can't put food down the sink due to the septic system so it's either wrapped well and tucked under the trash on top, fed to the dogs, or wrapped and put in the outside trash can. It smells occasionally. So did my trashcans before a trash compactor. RARELY have I ever had to remove the bag before it was time for trash pickup. I have nothing to complain about when it comes to owning a trash compactor. Yes, a FULL bag is heavy. That's why God made husbands :) When this one dies, we'll get another.
Monica

"this one dies" are you referring to the compactor or the husband. ROFL

Uh...both?? (g)

I never even considered a trash compactor. I'm guessing 60-70% of our "trash" goes into the recycle bin.
And we started composting last year. So we empty the trash maybe twice a week, sometimes only once, the night before trash pickup. I can think of many more uses for the space a trash compactor would take.

>>I can think of many more uses for the space a trash compactor would take.I've read this argument before concerning trash compactors.
My (free standing)trash compactor is 15" wide. How wide are pull out trash cans/bins or free standing kitchen sized, rubber trash cans? We have ours placed to sit nearly flush with the cabinets. We added a peninsula to the end of a run of cabinets and left a cutout at the end of the cabinets for the tc. The tc is under the peninsula countertop. TC is black, the base of the bar is Black Galaxy, appliances are black...(we) think it all blends in nicely :)
Monica

Also considering a compactor. We have no town trash pickup and are required to pay $2.50/kitchen bag to dispose of trash and .25 cents for a recycling bin. Figured a compactor might make sense provided i'm not wrestling with broken trash bags due to excessive weight.

We recycle all paper, plastic bottles, glass, etc. and compost veggies (at least when the ground isn't frozen).

I buy my compactor bags at the big box stores. There are 2.5 mil thick. The only times mine have ripped is when someone puts something sharp inside the compactor - like a broken hanger- and as the ram compacts the hanger scrapped the side of the plastic. But other than that the bags are strong. I've never had the bottom break either.

I never had an issue with bags breaking. And my KA unit came with a wide plastic carrying strap thingy that goes under the bag and helps to lift the full bag out and carry it to the curb (or wherever).

MC and Weed...thanks for the assurances on the bag-strength!

We had one when we moved and the appliances came with the house. Tried it. Everyone pushed the button, then we decided it wasn't our thing and tried to get rid of it in like new condition on CL. It took over a month and sold for $40. Probably about 500$ new.
Put a cabinet in it's place with a garbage can.

I'm not thinking they are that popular anymore.

Another vote for yea. I love mine.

I know this is an old thread but....

Use ours every day. Installed original to the house in 1985. Is the only original appliance that is still in service..... Have changed the front panel at every kitchen redo to keep the wife happy. Stainless at this point. Have replaced one switch in all these years...

"Knock on wood".....

Going to Necro this thread a it is still valid. We bought a home just over a year ago that has a TC. I love it but the rest of the family has not gotten into the habit of using it. We still use a trash can for smelly waste but everything else I put in the TC. It is SO satisfying to see all those plastic bottles crushed to nothing... they used to take up all the space in a garbage can. Note: Recycling in our area is on hold. Currently remodeling and not sure if we will keep the TC or not... but it has been great, IMHO.