Trash Compactor, or Yet Another Garbage Can?

Eric • 29th Jan 2007 • Family

We’re having a garbage problem at the Nagel household… there’s just too much of it. We started to fall behind at Christmas because of the wrapping paper, and with the girls’ birthdays just passing, there’s still 4 or 5 bags of boxes, wrapping paper, and packaging in the basement.

We seem to make a bit of progress, then do something like clean the basement, or clean the attic, or clean Jason’s room, and fall behind again. We just can’t fit it in the 2 garbage cans.

Kenmore provided 1 can, and we quickly ordered a 2nd. I really don’t want to go to a 3rd – that’s just ridiculous. I was looking at Trash Compactors online, but I don’t want to give up the under-the-counter-space. A freestanding one could replace our garbage can, but I’m afraid with the kids around that they’d get hurt.

One of the arguments for getting a trash compactor is that they save on landfill space, but I know the garbage truck that comes down the street does a fine job at compacting my garbage.

I could get one & put it in the basement, and just compact some of the garbage we produce, like the stuff from my office & other non-stinky, food garbage.

The only other option I can think of is to sneak out early in the AM with my garbage & put it in my neighbors’ garbage cans. Luckily, this summer we’re going on vacation, so we can do some catchup then. But I’d really prefer to get rid of all our garbage each week!