I think trash compactors are one of those things people either love or hate. I've never had one and would not want one. All things being equal I'd pick the house without one. If you put in a pull out trash, and your buyer wants a compactor, they can install one. If you put in a compactor, it's a lot harder to get rid of that and get the matching cabinet door to convert to a pull out trash. HOWEVER! The real question is: Are you remodeling for yourself or for some potential buyer down the road? Are you going to sell your house immediately after the remodel? If so, then yeah, you want to do what will sell the house. But if not, then IMHO you want to remodel your kitchen to please yourself. Trying to guess what some potential buyer might or might not want, years from now, is a no-win game. And in the meantime you're living with a kitchen that's less than ideal for you.

Oh, wi-sailorgirl, do whatever you can to get a separate trash pull-out! I thought the same thing, that I couldn't spare any cab space in my 15 x 8 galley. But then, just a few weeks before construction was to start, DH nudged me away from the sink, as was his wont, so he could throw out something. I suddenly realized that a small trash pull-out next to the sink would be much cheaper than the cost of a defense attorney after I beaned him with the skillet I was washing. The new cabs provide so much more storage space that I don't miss the space in the 15" cab that houses the pull-out. It's possible that under the sink is your only option, but it's worth it to consider every possibility. I've told this story before, but there is now a postscript. I thought the pull-out would eliminate the nudging, but then DH nudged me when he needed to get a replacement garbage bag out from under the sink. It only took one time, and I moved the box of bags into the trash pull-out. I am happy that DH puts out the garbage when he finds it full and replaces the bag. But I also try to prevent situations where I am tempted to hit him over the head with a skillet.

I wish I'd seen those before we built. Merillat didn't have that option but we could have installed it ourselves. We have the double trash pullout for recyclables, but I forgot that CT has bottle deposit so instead of newspapers one gets used for soda cans. Trash is under the sink. But I may change out the 18" double trash pullout to pullout drawers and replace the LS in the corner with a 3-4 bin trash/recycle when we get new countertops in a few years! Does anybody know if you have to pull the countertop off to get these in, or is there a telescoping rod with a cotter pin that can just be pulled out? Also, the inside of my corner cabinet is curved - is that a problem for the bins?

This house had a compactor when we moved in 6 1/2 years ago. I'd always thought they were relics of the 60s and 70s but I quickly became a fan. When we redid the kitchen, I upgraded to a nice new Kitchenaid compactor:) I LOVE my trash compactor and wouldn't be without it. Two of my sisters also recently put in compactors and love them too. We actually added a 2nd one in the pantry for recycables. They get mildly compressed so we can easily go a week without them being all over the place. We had a pullout in the temporary kitchen during the remodel and I couldn't wait to get my compactor back. The pullout bin seemed to fill up within about 1/2 a day of emptying the trash, and it would spill out the top all over into the cabinet. It drove me mad :) I love that I only have to empty once a week on trash day. Sure, it is a little heavy but easy for me or DH to lift. Anita PS - We also freeze leftover meat, chicken, bones, etc, btw.