What Is A Compactor?

You Asked, We Answered!

Earlier this month, we answered the often asked question of “what is a baler”?  Now that you know what a baler is and how it can help you earn extra revenue while improving workplace cleanliness and safety, its time to answer the question of “what is a compactor”?

This post will give you a better understanding of what a compactor is they are and the types available for purchase or rent from Harmony Equipment Rental.

What Is A Compactor?

When people think of waste compactors, most minds go to the under-the-counter versions popular in many late 20th century homes.  Restaurants, retail stores, residential buildings, and other businesses need a more robust solution that fits their operational area, as well as volume and type of waste.

An industrial or commercial compactor is a machine that operates by first collecting waste into a container.  Operators insert the waste at ground level, from a loading dock, into a sunken pit, or through a chute that connects to the machine.  The waste gathers in the container until an operator runs a compaction cycle in which a platen, attached to a hydraulic ram, forces the waste into the far end of the container. (Think Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope compactor scene!)  The waste is crushed or “compacted”, and reduced in size by as much as 11 times its original volume.

Why would a business owner want to bother with compacting their waste instead of just putting it into an open top dumpster?  There are several benefits to using a compactor for waste.  These are just a few:

• They reduce the volume and footprint of waste, allowing for a larger quantity and weight of waste to be hauled away less frequently.  This saves your business an great deal of money and gives you and immediate return on your investment.
• They help to reduce the carbon emissions put out by the truck during more frequent hauls, thus improving the environment for generations to come.
• They provide a more clean and safe waste collection area.  They reduce pilferage, fire hazards, safety hazards, and odor in and around the waste corral.
• The reduced waste takes up less space in landfills, allowing for more waste to be deposited and easing the burden on the already stressed waste stream.

What Kinds Of Compactors Are There?

There are several different kinds of compactors, each serving a specific purpose, application, or volume of waste.  Typically, businesses use indoor compactors, stationary compactors, vertical compactors, and self-contained compactors.

Indoor Trash Compactors

Indoor compactors are often used by restaurants, shopping malls, museums, airports, hospitals, and other areas in which customers directly dispose of trash in an indoor setting. Our flagship indoor compactor, the SmartPack Automatic Trash Compactor, has a “no-touch” automatic door and provides an amazing11:1 compaction ratio!  Our indoor stainless steel compactors, like our 450SS Indoor Packer, help to compact waste in the back end of restaurants, daycares, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Residential buildings and offices sometime have the need to send waste into a central location for collection and compaction.  Our AC30 Apartment Compactor is an example of a machine that has a large hopper and feed opening, allowing it to be configured with a chute for just such purposes.

Stationary Models

Stationary Compactors are outdoor units that are permanently set into place, and have a detachable container.  Harmony’s line of stationary compactors come in 1 yard, 2 yard, and 3 yard sizes, with a variety of container sizes available.  What makes these unique, is that they can be configured for any business setting.  Waste can be fed into them in numerous ways, including ground load side-feed doghouse, rear or side chute feed, hopper feed, rear feed double access doors, walk on/drive on deck, walk on/drive on deck enclosed, side load tipper, or offset hopper.

When the compactor is full, the container can be emptied into a hauling truck on site, or removed and brought back at a later date.

 

Vertical Compactors

Stationary models, although normally horizontal in orientation, are sometimes made as vertical compactors for situations where space is a premium.  Harmony’s VC100 is a uniquely designed high volume outdoor vertical machine that has a turret style top.  This innovative construction allows for the loading door to meet a chute or hand fed waste deposit from any angle – perfect for tight waste corrals!

Our P200 is a smaller, but powerful 2 yard compactor that can be powered by Harmony’s SunPak Solar Options, for those business who are LEED certified or who operate in a sustainable-minded manner.

 

 

Self-Contained Designs

Self-Contained Compactors are designed specifically for dry or wet waste and are located behind or at the dock areas of most locations.  The compactor and container are permanently attached to each other, utilizing the finest high quality steel plate and structural steel channel and tubing.  When full, the entire unit is loaded onto a roll-off truck for transportation to the landfill.  These compactors range in sizes, and can be as large as 40 cu. yards.

Harmony has a line of 4-6 yard front and rear loaded power packer compactors, as well as a line of larger self-contained outdoor compactors.

Your Waste Handling And Recycling Resource!

We hope you find this, and many of our other posts helpful.   Be sure to sign up for your free online version of our monthly Harmony Enterprises’ eNewsletter.  There is no obligation, and you may cancel your subscription at any time.   If you have any questions about our quality compactors or services, Contact Us or give us a call at 507-886-6666 today!