Best Trash Compactors 2022
The last thing you want in your basement is a mountain of puffy garbage bags. Some major problems people living in urban cities face are limited home space, busy schedules, and Everest-like floors. These inhibiting factors can make dumping trash bags seem like an arduous task. However, while we cannot always conquer time, one factor we have power over is space. Trash compactors can help you cut garbage volume, buy more time, save space, and reduce costs.
Cut your home waste volume and save money with our list of the best trash compactors in 2022.
Here are our top picks for best trash compactors:
- Best Convertible Trash Compactor: Whirlpool Convertible
- Best Under-The-Counter: GE Appliances Stainless Steel
- Most Powerful: Kitchenaid Stainless Steel Garbage Compactor
- Best Hands-free Trash Can: iTouchless 13 Gallon Trash Can
Best Convertible Trash Compactor
Whirlpool Convertible Trash Compactor
Convertible trash compactors can serve dual purposes – as a freestanding garbage compactor and under-the-counter compress trash can. Let’s say your kitchen furniture isn’t set, and you need a trash compactor that you will later install into the pantry; the Whirlpool convertible garbage compactor is your best choice.
While the convertible garbage compactor can be used as an under-the-counter compress trash can, it has no built-in odor control system.
They offer the option to replace the front panel with a trim kit if your design taste changes and you need an upgrade. It is available in white, black, and stainless steel colors.
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- You can use it outdoors or indoors.
- Offers a disposal unit for additional garbage bags.
- Easily compress your trash using the touchpad control interface.
- Has touch-toe removable drawer opener for easy usage.
- Comes with an automatic anti-jam to prevent accidents.
- The 1.4 CU garbage compactor has a compaction ratio of 4 to 1.
Cons
- No sensor to automate its opening and closing.
- Lacks an in-built odor control system.
Best Under-the-Counter
GE Appliances Stainless Steel Under-the-counter Trash Compactor
Most trash compactors have intrusive designs that might compete with the kitchen design. Unlike conventional garbage compactor designs, the GE trash compactor hides its controls so that the device blends with the kitchen interior. This kitchen appliance is one of the best automatic trash compactors you can get online and offline.
Step on the foot pedal to dump your garbage, and the drawer will be released. The 1.4 cu ft garbage compactor comes with removable control knobs and is available in black, white, and stainless steel finish.
Pros
- Blends with any kitchen design.
- Unobtrusive, fully integrated controls.
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- Possess back wheels for a convenient setup.
Cons
- Lacks a fingerprint-resistant finish.
Read more: 11 Best Microwaves of 2022: Reviews and Ratings
Most Powerful Trash Compactor
Kitchenaid Stainless Steel Garbage Compactor
This compactor is a great garbage compactor for every kitchen. Unlike other kitchen appliances we’ve recommended, the Kitchenaid automatic garbage compactor has a compaction ratio of 5 to 1. With the high compaction ratio, you can rest assured that your trash volume will reduce by 80%.
Kitchen Aid is one of the market’s most innovative major appliance brands.
The built-in model has a noise cancelation feature, making it one of the must-have household essentials for every home. It is not a manual garbage compactor.
Pros
- It can crush aluminum cans.
- Automatically compresses MSW, unlike manual compactors.
- Excellent stainless steel finish.
- Possess more trash than other brands.
Cons
- Quite expensive. Not the best budget garbage compactor.
Best Hands-free Trash Can
iTouchless 13 Gallon Trash Can
If you are looking for a budget trash can that’s also intelligent, you can opt for the iTouchless 13 Gallon trash. Although it belongs to the family of digitized trash cans and is not a garbage compactor, it comes with automated features such as the self-opening lid and sensor detector.
When approached by a human, the Visiosense feature allows the trash can to ‘be aware,’ and it opens up for the user. Once the user finishes using it, it also closes by itself.
The emission of green light from the front means the garbage compactor is about to open, while a red light signal indicates it is about to close. iTouchless trash cans are not your regular trash cans.
The product lives up to the manufacturer’s maxim – touchless, live more. iTouchless automatic models come in different sizes. The larger the size, the higher the cost, but the least price is $83.52.
Pros
- Eliminates foul odor using AbsorbXX charcoal filter.
- You don’t have to get your hands dirty by visiting the trash can as it opens and closes automatically.
- It won’t close on your hand because of its Reflx tech feature.
- Doesn’t exhaust its battery power quickly and comes with an AC adapter for direct power usage.
- Has sufficient capacity.
- Helps reduce trash volume, save space, cut costs, and maintain a tidy environment.
- The outer part is designed with fingerprint-proof stainless steel.
- Prevents the garbage bag from falling into the trash can using a retainer ring.
- Durable.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a rechargeable battery as it has to be plugged in at all times.
- Its battery installment requires two hands, which isn’t the best for disabled individuals.
- Doesn’t compress trash.
Things to consider when getting a trash compactor
I know you want something that tidies up the mess caused by too many trash bags. Still, beyond the basic value, a trash compactor offers, there is a professional approach to choosing the MSW trash compactors for your home. Below are the factors we considered while reviewing these trash compactors.
Do you want a freestanding model or an under-the-counter model?
The common question we get from people is, “what is the best choice of garbage compactors between the freestanding one and the under-the-counter alternative? The answer to this question is subjective. I’ll explain shortly.
If you are not a fan of keeping trash outside the gate or in the open, the best trash compactor for you is the under-the-counter or built-in trash compactor. The under-the-trash compactor is integrated into kitchen cabinetry.
The built-in trash compactor has an automatic and panel-ready design, meaning you don’t have to break your back while trying to compress the trash manually, as seen in manual freestanding garbage compactor cans. In less than a minute of putting your trash in the built-in garbage compactor, it will automatically compress its volume.
On the other hand, manual freestanding trash compactors are cheaper than automatic built-in trash compactors. It is great for homes where you will keep the garbage compactors outside the house.
The middle child between freestanding garbage compactors and built-in trash compactors is the convertible compactor. You can use them outdoors and indoors. You can also install them in the pantry or garage.
Compaction force and Capacity
The compaction force or compression force can either be low or high. Trash compactors with high force compaction usually come with at least a sacrificial container.
We can determine the effect of the compaction force by dividing the volume before compaction by the resultant volume after compaction. The value derived is called the volume reduction factor, aka VRF.
The higher the compaction force, the higher the VRF value. Hence low-force compaction results in low performance while high-force compaction offers high compaction performance.
Low-force compactors are MSW compactors with a compaction force value lower than 500 tonnes (or 5MN). Low-force compaction is a feature in three major MSW compactors: in-box compactors and balers.
A high-force or super-compactor is a trash compactor with a compaction force of over 1000 tonnes (or 10 MN).
To be clear, super-compactors are used in large-scale manufacturing companies, not homes or offices.
The capacity is simply the amount of waste that the trash compactor can accommodate at once. The suitable capacity depends on the waste churned out regularly in your office space or home. If you don’t have the patience to gradually compact smaller volumes of waste, you can go for larger versions.
Ease of use
You don’t need to be a professional to operate a good garbage compactor. The trash compactor must have a down-to-earth user guide that helps the user use the device without stressing.
Other Features
While compiling our list of the MSW trash compactors, we also considered these additional features, namely;
- Monitor and rugged unit.
- Food waste disposal unit.
- Accident-prevention system.
- Odor management system for containing foul odors.
- Side release Bin or plastic containers plus special bags for holding compacted trash.
- Anti-jam and tilt sensors.
- Noise dampening system.
Lest I forget, the design of the trash compactor is quite essential if you’re considering getting an under-the-counter trash compactor. The aesthetics of whatever product you go with ought to match your kitchen’s design.
Final Thoughts
You should avoid dumping organic waste like raw meat into the trash compactor to prevent unpleasant odors from taking over your surrounding. Also, keep flammable materials out of the garbage compactor.
Suppose you are using a relatively smaller or portable garbage compactor. In that case, it is advisable not to dump more than its capacity and not overload it with more trash than it can contain, regardless of its compression force. Calculate the size of your daily household waste to avoid defacing your environment with overflowing trash cans.
Manual trash compactors are not best for disabled people. You should prioritize automatic trash compactors because of their ease of use. Also, children, older adults, and disabled individuals might encounter issues when trying to carry a trash bag full of household waste.
