Seattle Public Utilities -- Deciding on Compaction

Deciding on Compaction

Dumpster compactors can save you money. Consider the following when making a decision about a compactor:

Is your building suitable for a compaction system to be installed? Do you have a compactor room at street or alley level that is accessible to garbage collectors? Is it big enough to accommodate a 2 cubic yard compactor? Note that larger high-rise buildings and very large mixed-use buildings may require larger compactors.
Is your compactor accessible to residents? Can you use chutes or carts to get garbage to the compactor room?
Will a compactor save you money? Compacting can reduce your garbage to ¼ the original amount. Even with the higher rate for compacted garbage, you may save on disposal bills. See Dumpster Rates
Can you get the dumpster out of the compaction room and to the collection point? The weight of the container is four times that of uncompacted garbage. In many cases, a motorized or power-assisted vehicle may be necessary to get the container out of the building and to the collection point.

To find out more about compaction systems, look in the Yellow Pages under garbage compactors.

For help in planning garbage services inside new building projects, contact Liz Kain at liz.kain@seattle.gov or (206) 684-4166.