We need vintage trash compactors to come back into style!
While trash compactor popularity peaked during this era, the appliance failed to really take off as a kitchen necessity. (Let’s face it, those on a budget back in those days were probably saving up for a dishwasher — and who can blame them?!)
While you can still buy them today, you’re far less likely to see them in modern kitchens, particularly since more and more people have turned to recycling and composting.
It probably wouldn’t hurt the environment for trash compactors to make a comeback, though.
Trash compactors are a new item (1973)
By Carol Cheesman – Tipton County Tribune (Tipton, Indiana) May 18, 1973
The trash compactor, an instant hit on the market, is the newest in kitchen clean-up appliances.
It’s the first totally new major appliance performing a new function to come onto the market in nearly 30 years.
The trash compactor does precisely what it is intended to do — compacts the trash from an average family of four into one neat little package, weighing 25 to 30 lbs.
It squeezes refuse to about one-fourth of its original size — meaning that the neat little package can replace some four garbage cans of non-compacted trash. [Ed. note: emphasis mine and also 😱]
Typical examples of what can be placed in a trash compactor include milk, cereal, and egg cartons; empty coffee and beverage cans; all types of glass jars and bottles; rags and large meat bones.
Each year the average person discards about 188 pounds of paper cartons, 250 metal cans, 135 jars, and bottles, plus other miscellaneous refuse.
Some experts even estimate that the yearly output of trash by most Americans comes to the startling figure of 1-1/4 tons, making for a growing nationwide problem and causing some ecologists to fear that we are burying ourselves in our own refuse.
Whether the trash compactor is the answer to ecological problems is still being debated.
The operation of a trash compactor is fairly simple. Electrical energy is converted to mechanical energy which reduces the volume of the trash. A large motor-driven ram does the actual compacting. Most trash compactors run on a normal 115 volt, 15-ampere circuit.
There are two basic types of trash compactors — drawer loaded and top loaded. You also have the choice of built-in and free-standing.
Most feature a container into which plasticized paper bags are inserted to hold the compacted trash. The bags must be purchased either from the manufacturer or the retailer selling the appliance.
If you are considering a trash compactor look for a safety lock feature for protection. Ease of cleaning. is another feature to look for. Make sure that the compactor will accept normal cartons.
Odor control is important, too, because the trash will remain in the kitchen longer than does non-compacted trash. Manufacturers have devised various ways to counter this problem.
Prices vary from $175 to $235. Extra features are optional, of course.
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Vintage 70s Tappan kitchen appliances, including the compactor
The Trash Masher by Whirlpool (1970)
In the beginning, God created man. And man promptly created trash.
Now, in 1970, Whirlpool has finally created a civilized way to get rid of it; the Trash Masher compactor. It fits under your kitchen counter or plugs in anywhere.
Whenever you have trash or garbage, simply toss it into the replaceable plastic-lined bag inside the drawer. You can even throw in bottles and cans.
Then shut the drawers and turn it on. It evens itself off in less than a minute, and you can lock it so kids can’t operate it.
The trash is compacted with o crushing force of 2,000 pounds and sprayed with a deodorant.
You get up to a week’s worth of trash in a neat little bag.
And when you finally take it out and seal it, you can put it outside overnight without a garbage can. Rain won’t soak through it. Your neighbor’s dog will be completely baffled. And your garbage man will love you.
The Trash Masher: A week’s worth of trash in a neat little bag.
Woman using a vintage trash compactor from General Electric (1970s)
Just when everyone is coming out with their first trash compactor… (1971)
Whirlpool is coming out with its second.
In 1969, Whirlpool introduced the world’s first home trash compactor. Over the past two years, consumer acceptance of this new household appliance has just grown and grown and grown. Which isn’t terribly surprising, really. After all, it does make life a lot easier when you have an appliance right in your kitchen that compresses a week’s worth of trash into a neat little bag.
(For those of you who aren’t all that familiar with our Trash Masher compactor, here’s how it works: Every time you throw away trash, just open the drawer, drop the trash in the bag, close the drawer and push the button. In 60 seconds, your trash is compressed to one-fourth its original size — and it’s sprayed with a deodorizer.)
Anyway, it seems several other manufacturers are jumping on our bandwagon. However, during the past two years, we haven’t been sitting back, basking in our own success. Our engineers have been constantly at work on ways to improve our original Trash Masher compactor.
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Thus, the 1972 Whirlpool Trash Masher compactor. Available in under-counter as well as freestanding models. With the major components throughout redesigned and retooled for better performance as well as simplified service. A sleek one-piece front drawer (with interchangeable panels). And storage space for our special tear-resistant bags is located right in the unit (on our freestanding model ).
Why buy an imitation of our original trash compactor from somebody else, when you can buy not only the original, but an improved version of the original from us.
Vintage trash compactors: Packaged by a Whirlpool Compactor. (1975)
Convenient storage compartment for extra bags. Automatic deodorizing spray system. Key-knob starts the Trash Masher compactor, stops it, and locks off the power. Tough disposable plastic-lined bags.
Whirlpool. We believe quality can be beautiful.
Retro KitchenAid Trash Compactor in a kitchen (1980s)
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The KitchenAid Trash Compactor. You’ll wonder how you ever got along without it. (1981)
Spend a week with the KitchenAid trash compactor, and you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.
It squeezes a week’s trash into one small load. Does away with over-flowing wastebaskets and smelly trash cans.
The KitchenAid compactor has an exclusive Litter Bin door on top that’s super convenient for quick throwaways. And a big trash drawer down below for wastebasket loads. Its exclusive Tilt-Away basket can be used with or without trash bags. And the exclusive activated charcoal filter removes odors.
A KitchenAid trash compactor has the same kind of built-in reliability and performance as KitchenAid dishwashers. Plus convenience feature that it’ll prove their worth many time a day.
To learn more, see your KitchenAid dealer or write for ou free point-by-point comparison.
We built our reputation on performance, not promises.
How they worked: KitchenAid Trash Compactor diagram (1991)
Parts of the machine: Control panel, trash drawer, built-in storage compartment, tilt-away trash basket, built-in “litter bin” door, basket release handle, charcoal air filter with fan
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8 Responses
Except, unless you only filled it with dry trash it would ooze sour garbage juice and get really smelly. Broken glass and jagged metal didn’t help as they would sometimes poke through the bag and when you’d take it out to toss it, it would leave a garbage juice puddle inside the compactor and a sticky trail all the way from the compactor to the curb, lol. Don’t let the “deodorizer” feature fool you either. It just smelled like stinky garbage that someone sprayed perfume on. Mildew and bacteria would soon colonize because they were impossible to clean properly and got really nasty fast. In the end my folks just ended up using theirs for clean dry trash only which was mainly light cardboard and plastic. Glass items, meat packages and anything wet or had food on it went into the regular trash can.
Growing up, I never knew anyone who had a trash compactor. My understanding is that they are most useful if you live in an area without curbside trash collection and need to haul your trash to a municipal dump.
It is one of the best kitchen appliances there ever was. I love them I’ve had one in a number of my homes. I am now in the process of trying to fine one for my new home. They are kind of pricey tho.
I am in need of a kitchen aid trash compactor stainless or ready to receive my cabinet front. It must be 18” wide. Please help
I’ve inherited my parent’s home (built in 81-82), and it has the kitchenaid by hobart compactor(built in). I don’t see any other name, or serial number. It has the small tilt out top bin, and large bottom drawer, on/off/lock key, and button for charcoal air filter on/fan/off. I don’t see anything that remotely relates to the filter, or know where it would be. I was thinking of crushing cans and plastic bottles, and would also need bags. Any help, or advice would be appreciated.
Walmart has compactor bags. Wax lined paper.
Deborah, my filter is just inside on the panel you can see when drawed is opened. Mine is is brown with slats. The cover pops off so you can install a fresh one. You can buy plastic bags on Amazon. I prefer the paper ones, but couldn’t find them. If they are too large you simply roll the top down on all 4 sides of the bag.
Oy learned about these today! We had one in my childhood house in the 80s, bit I never knew what it was and it was disconnected, but it had some cool buttons for me to push.