Well, one thing to consider is the weight after it has been compacted. I've never had one but my friend is always sorting her trash because she can't allow "stinky" trash to remain in the trash. I didn't get one because of the extra $$ and the fact that she has always complained about it. I love my pull outs and don't find emptying the trash bothersome.

We had one in our last house, but not in our new house. We much prefer the pullout. The trash compactor, unless you're constantly very careful about what goes in and how it goes in, can get gross pretty fast, since the mechanism pushes against the top of the trash and if it's gooey or sticky at all, the mechanism gets it, too. If you don't clean it on a regular basis, it can become quite a project.

Also, the compacted garbage is VERY HEAVY to pull out of the compactor and get outside. We prefer taking it out more often to taking it out so heavy, and it seems it would be a bigger burden for your hubby.

Okay, good points. However, we hardly put food waste in our trash-the disposal gets that and we actually use a plastic bag and freeze leftover meat, chicken, bones, fish etc. Then it goes out on trash day. Habit we developed when the dog would go after the trash. The weight would be a concern, but we are carrying the weight anyway, it's just more bulky.

This house had a compactor when we moved in 6 1/2 years ago. I'd always thought they were relics of the 60s and 70s but I quickly became a fan. When we redid the kitchen, I upgraded to a nice new Kitchenaid compactor:) I LOVE my trash compactor and wouldn't be without it. Two of my sisters also recently put in compactors and love them too.

We actually added a 2nd one in the pantry for recycables. They get mildly compressed so we can easily go a week without them being all over the place.

We had a pullout in the temporary kitchen during the remodel and I couldn't wait to get my compactor back. The pullout bin seemed to fill up within about 1/2 a day of emptying the trash, and it would spill out the top all over into the cabinet. It drove me mad :) I love that I only have to empty once a week on trash day. Sure, it is a little heavy but easy for me or DH to lift.

Anita

PS - We also freeze leftover meat, chicken, bones, etc, btw.

We had a trash compactor in the old kitchen. We just are finishing our new remodel of the same kitchen. My wife insisted that the compactor go back in. She loves it. We put very little food garbage in it. The smell issue is no more a problem then it is with a trash can. But when you only have to take out 1 bag a week you will learn to love the compactor. I vote for it.

I forgot to mention above that my new Kitchenaid compactor has a built in air filter to keep odors down. Since I don't put damp foods in, I don't ever notice a smell anyway, but it would probably help if you did.

Anita

I've also noticed that they don't seem to be that popular. I would never have considered spending a grand on a trash can, but our house that we bought had one already. When that one died, we replaced it. It is a wonderful thing to keep out pets and kids and cuts down dramatically on the amount of trash that gets taken out. It was non-negotiable when putting the kitchen in our new house. We have the kitchenaid with the filter/fan. You can put in anything! Just throw in a layer of news paper before your crush so that the mechanism stays clean. We put out trash once a week!
Love it!

If you can afford the space, go for it. Dont forget that you'll need to install a power outlet down there. I always thought they were a good idea, never thought of the weight, but its a good point.

i love that idea about putting the "garbage food" in the freezer until trash day! I'm going to do that from now on!

We are putting one in our kitchen on the advise of a cabinet maker. We plan on using a composter, two pullout recycling bins and the compactor. Hopefully between all those we will only have to make a trip to the landfill once every 6-8 weeks or so. We live in a remote area with no garbage service.

All the above are good points though

One thing I really like about my pullout vs. the compactor in my old kitchen is that the top of the trash can is higher. The compactor bag was kind of low, which meant that trash missed the target more often.

Also, I think compactors are kind of a pain if you are on septic, unless you have enough room in your kitchen to do all the sorting katybuggs does. With my septic I send very little down the disposal, and I wouldn't want to put stuff like chicken skin in a compactor.

If your choice is compactor vs. having recycling in the kitchen, I must add that I love having a recycling receptacle in my kitchen, and wouldn't give that up for a compactor.