There aren’t many full kitchen renovations in the works these days — those megaprojects of granite and stainless steel for only $100,000 or so. But there are niche projects that deliver major changes, like installing a trash compactor, available from major appliance manufacturers such as KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Kenmore and others.
Compactors can’t reduce the amount of garbage, just its size.
The Broan Elite XE that I installed applies 3,000 pounds of pressure for a 6-to-1 reduction ratio. That means filling the trash can one time instead of six, which will reduce pickup costs wherever fees are based on volume. In my case, it means one trip instead of six to the transfer station about 9 miles away. Overall, that makes the compactor a time saver and an energy saver.
Some green groups dismiss compactors as another energy-guzzling convenience that does no more than save a few trips to the trash cans.
They overlook the fact that compactors don’t run all the time like a refrigerator, or even once a day in many homes. In fact, most trash compactors use no more than 4 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month. The Broan XE uses about 2 kwh, and when run daily it costs less than $4 a year to operate. Groups that track carbon footprints will find that 2 to 4 kwh is a good trade-off for saving 18 miles of driving most weeks.
Features
Compactors operate like a standard pull-out garbage bin that’s hidden behind a cabinet door — but more smoothly than most because of the full-extension ball-bearing glides. The upper part of the appliance has a motor that powers a ram to compress what’s in the bin below. It’s a simple machine. But the Broan adds some convenient features, like an odor-absorbing disc that rotates automatically month by month, and a timer so the ram operates whenever you want. There’s also an easily removable safety toggle that prevents young children from accidentally starting the appliance.
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As the cycle starts, you hear the motor and the ram, particularly when it crushes a big can. But the door is insulated — and also reversible to swing from the right or left. There are several available finishes, but many compactors come with a metal frame that accepts standard wood cabinet doors. I found a match at Merillat, the manufacturer of the existing cabinets, so the appliance looks like just another cupboard.
Installation
Most people will hire an installer, at least to provide an outlet at the back of the opening. But I found the installation straightforward. First, lose the cabinet door. Then pry off the trim along the floor — the recessed piece at the back of the toe space. Then cut down through the base of the cabinet on both sides in line with the edges of the cabinet frame, called the carcass. I didn’t need special tools, or even power tools, just a small trim saw and a screwdriver.
The unit is heavy (about 150 pounds) and stable. Like many appliances, once you plug it in and nestle it in the opening, the front legs can be adjusted. When the compactor is squared up and level, you simply drive two screws through clips at the top into the overhang of the counter. The only job left is to replace the baseboard to cover the legs of the compactor.
It’s not quite as simple as that, at least not in my house, which dates from 1950 with a few parts that are not exactly square and level. But I split the difference to get reasonable margins at the seams, and with a matching door face, your eye sweeps right by the installation, as though it’s been there all along. You can download an installation manual and full product specs at broan.com.