Apartment trash compactors work in a variety of ways to efficiently transport waste to a central location. They’re also easy to use and cost less than renting dumpsters and hauling trash to a dump.
Whether you’re installing a new apartment compactor or replacing an old one, it’s important to know how it works. Often, property managers run into issues with oversized items that don’t fit down the chute.
Chute-Fed Compactors
One of the most important issues facing apartment buildings is waste management. Dirty trash chutes and compactor rooms can lead to odor, mold, vermin, and fire hazards. Additionally, they can contaminate the air quality inside the building.
A chute-fed trash compactor receives a continuous stream of trash from a building’s trash chute and compresses the garbage as it goes down it. This reduces the amount of trash that needs to be hauled offsite and allows residents to use smaller containers to store their waste materials.
Trash compactors are typically installed in places that generate a lot of dry trash such as office buildings, hotels and shopping centers. They are designed to quickly and efficiently compress paper, cardboard, and other similar dry waste materials about 400 percent so that it takes up less space in its container.
Many chute-fed compactors are fully automatic, which means that they operate without the need for a person to press a manual push button. They also have over-packing protection, which stops them from operating when they’re full of trash.
When a compactor’s photocell detects a change in the level of trash, it sends and receives a light beam that triggers the compactor’s ram to move forward. The ram then travels down the chute and presses the trash into a pre-positioned waste bag.
The ram will then move back to the rear, reverse and shut off automatically once the trash has been compacted. The compactor will then receive another load from the building’s trash chute and begin compaction again.
Chute-fed compactors can be operated with key-locked push buttons or by photocell start systems. They also have a number of other features such as low oil level and over temperature protection, alarm strobes, and text displays to provide operators with real-time information about the compactor’s status.
Several different types of trash compactors are available for residential apartment complexes, including portable, self-contained, and automatic models. Some of these compactors are equipped with removable containers that hold up to 2 cubic yards of waste, which makes them more convenient for tenants.
Trash chutes and compactor rooms are an essential part of any multifamily building’s waste management system, so they should be properly maintained to ensure a clean and safe environment. Metropolitan’s compactor service and installation technicians have been designing, installing, servicing and replacing refuse, recycling and linen disposal systems for Bronx-based building owners, contractors, property managers, maintenance superintendents and residential architects since 1983.
Manual Compactors
Manual trash compactors can be a great alternative to dumpsters for many commercial and residential applications. They reduce waste volumes and eliminate the need to collect waste onsite, which can save time, labor, and money. They can also improve the aesthetics of trash areas.
These types of compactors are typically used in high-rise apartment buildings, hotels, hospitals, and office buildings that do not have enough room for large dumpsters or receptacles. They are typically designed with two compartments: one for wet or dray trash and the other for recyclables such as paper and plastics.
The compaction force of these trash compactors reduces waste volume by up to 10X its normal size. This improves the experience for tenants and guests by reducing the amount of trash they see when entering an apartment building or hotel.
Using these systems can also save apartment community management and maintenance staff time and energy. They automatically cycle based on traffic flow instead of manually operating them. These units are usually more expensive than manual models, but they can also be more effective.
Most automatic compactors are powered by electricity and have strong motors that provide a lot of compression coercion to compress your waste. Some of them have control systems that allow you to compact your trash at your leisure.
Another option is to purchase a stationary waste compactor, which can be placed in trash rooms or any other space where trash must be collected. These waste compactors are available in either electric or gas powered models, and are suited to most commercial or industrial needs.
These stationary compactors can be configured with an odor control system that can prevent odours from escaping the compactor. They can also be equipped with an adjustable timer, which is a feature that helps users to manage their waste collection schedules.
They can also be equipped with a container-full light and start-up alarm, which are useful when the compactor is automated. Some of these models even have hidden controls, which are easier to keep clean and maintain.
These compactors can be either chute-fed or manual fed, and they can reduce waste volume by as much as 10X its usual size. They can also help to reduce trash collection costs and minimize the number of trips made by haulers to the landfill.
Self-Contained Compactors
Apartment trash compactors work differently than portable compactors. They use a ram-like device to compact waste that has been deposited into them. This process reduces the volume of the trash by about 75%. Then, the garbage is loaded into containers and sent to a waste hauler for disposal.
These compactors are also able to handle wet and granulated waste materials, which makes them perfect for restaurants and other businesses that produce a lot of liquid waste. This type of compactor prevents the waste from leaking out and creating an odor, which is important for locations that have an outdoor area where people can walk through.
Often found outdoors behind businesses, self-contained compactors have doors that are welded shut to prevent unauthorized access by scavengers and pests. They are ideal for places that need a more secure waste management solution, such as hospitals and airports.
Another feature of a self-contained compactor is that it allows for two separate compartments, one for landfill type trash and the other for recyclables. This allows for waste to be separated onsite, which means it can be easier to manage and less likely to end up in the wrong bin.
In addition, these units offer a streamlined system that makes it easy for building owners to manage the trash and recycles from a single location. They are also ideal for high-rise complexes that have a tight space and don’t have room for a portable compactor.
To decide which type of compactor is right for your business, consider what kind of waste you typically generate and what types of containers you will need to store the trash in. This can help you determine the cubic yardage and waste weights that you will need.
The next step is to talk with a representative about your specific needs. They will be able to answer your questions and determine the best type of compactor for you. They will also be able to provide you with a quote. Once you’ve determined which type of compactor is best for your needs, you can purchase it and get started on the installation process.
Portable Compactors
Apartment trash compactors work by compressing waste into smaller, more manageable bundles. This reduces the volume of garbage, thereby saving on space and eliminating unwanted smells. They also provide a safe, enclosed area where waste can be kept until it is disposed of properly.
Depending on your needs, you can choose from a variety of portable compactor types. They can be chain-lift or roll-on/roll-off (hook lift) and have integrated or external bin lifts. They can hold a lot of waste, and are therefore less expensive to rent than dumpsters.
For many people, trash compactors are a great way to save on space and reduce the number of trash bags they use each week. They also help keep waste from getting too dirty and attracting pests, so they’re a good choice for both residential and commercial uses.
The size of a compactor depends on the amount of waste you produce and how much space you have. For example, if you only produce about 5 1100 litre wheelie bins per week, you’ll need a larger compactor than if you produce more than that.
If you want to reduce your waste volume and reduce your lorry costs, then it’s important to find the right type of compactor for your business. If you need to compact a large quantity of waste, then a static compactor might be best for you.
However, if you only have small amounts of waste to dispose of, then a portable compactor might be more suitable for you. A portable compactor is typically smaller than a static one, and you’ll only need to rent it for a short time.
In addition to saving money on waste collection, portable compactors can also help you recycle more of your trash. They can be used for general waste, which is often sent to landfill, as well as plastics and cardboard.
A portable compactor has a compact ratio of about five:1. This means that it can hold more waste than a standard skip, so you won’t need as many lorry loads to transport your waste.
Another benefit of a portable compactor is that they can be set to auto-cycle, which helps maintenance supervisors to avoid the hassle of having to manually cycle the machine each day. This saves maintenance technicians valuable time, and can help them to reduce downtime on site.