Compactors
Commercial Trash Compactors for New York City and the Northeast
Cooper Tank builds self-contained compactors for wet waste, single and dual ram stationary compactors for dry waste, apartment compactors for residential trash rooms, and the receiving containers that go with them. We have been in the waste equipment business in Brooklyn since 1946 and deliver across New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast.
Compactor Types and What Each One Is For
The first question is what kind of waste the site makes. Wet waste needs a sealed self-contained unit. Dry waste like cardboard and packaging goes in a stationary compactor and a receiving container. Residential trash rooms with little space take an apartment compactor.
Wet waste
Self-Contained Compactor
The ram and the container are built as one sealed, liquid-tight unit, so food scraps and liquids stay inside between pickups and do not leak onto the dock or into the haul truck. When it is full, the whole unit hauls off. Grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, food processors, hotel kitchens and stadiums are the usual buyers.
See specsDry waste
Stationary Compactor, Single Ram
One hydraulic cylinder, rated up to 45,000 lbs of force, pushes cardboard, paper, plastics and packaging into a separate receiving container. Only the container hauls off. It costs less to buy and maintain than a dual ram unit and suits offices, retail stores, department stores and warehouses.
See specsDry waste, high volume
Stationary Compactor, Dual Ram
Two hydraulic cylinders work in sequence, one to pre-crush and one to finish, with up to 58,000 lbs of force. It packs material denser than a single ram unit in less floor space. Distribution centers, big-box stores and manufacturers with at least 30 yards of dry waste a week are the usual fit.
See specsResidential trash rooms
Apartment / Mini Compactor
A 1 to 2 yard unit that fits through standard freight elevator doors and into trash rooms too tight for a full-size compactor. The hydraulic power unit runs quietly enough for residential noise ordinances, and key-switch operation limits use to building staff. Apartment buildings, condominiums, hotels and small commercial buildings buy it.
See specsPairs with a stationary compactor
Receiving Container
The box a stationary compactor fills and the hauler swaps. Standard is 10 gauge for cardboard and packaging, Heavy Duty adds 7 gauge floors and lower walls for compacted food waste, and Extra Heavy Duty is 7 gauge throughout for sludge and scrap metal trimmings.
See specsHand-fed loading
12 Gauge Steel Hopper
A hopper that funnels loose waste from a dock into a stationary compactor's charge chamber. It bolts to the charge box with a gap-free flanged connection, and the smooth-ground interior keeps material from hanging up.
See specsCompactor Sizes and Specs
Sizes and specs from each product page. Every product page has the full spec sheet.
| Unit | Sizes | Key specs |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Contained Compactor | 15, 20, 25, 30, 31, 35 yd container; 2 yd charge box | Top-feed, side-feed or hopper-fed. Tipper available on all models for 2 yd carts or 64/96 gal bins. NYC model 96" tall, about 10,000 lbs. 208/230/460V 3-phase. ANSI Z245.2. |
| Stationary Compactor, Single Ram | 2 or 3 yd charge box | Up to 45,000 lbs force. 50 to 70 second cycle. Auto and manual modes. Optional bin tipper. 208/230/460V 3-phase. ANSI Z245.2. |
| Stationary Compactor, Dual Ram | 2 or 3 yd charge box | Up to 58,000 lbs force. 45 to 60 second cycle. PLC controls with diagnostic display. Quick-connect container interface. 208/230/460V 3-phase. ANSI Z245.2, UL listed controls. |
| Apartment / Mini Compactor | 1, 1.5, 2 yd | Fits standard freight elevator doors. Key-switch operation. Interlock on charge opening. 120V single-phase or 208V 3-phase. Powder-coated for indoor use. ANSI Z245.2. |
| Receiving Container | 30, 34, 40, 42, 50 yd | Standard, Heavy Duty or Extra Heavy Duty. Quick-connect coupler plates. Full-width tilt-out rear door. Cable roll-off or hook lift compatible. ANSI Z245.30. |
| 12 Gauge Steel Hopper | Standard throat (2 to 4 yd charge box), wide throat (4 to 6 yd) | 12 gauge formed steel. Continuous MIG welds. Bolted flange to charge box. ANSI Z245.2. |
How to Choose a Commercial Compactor
By waste type
Food scraps, produce, meat trimmings and anything with liquid go in a self-contained compactor, because the sealed unit keeps liquid in until it reaches the disposal facility. Cardboard, paper, plastic film and packaging go in a stationary compactor. Pick the receiving container build by what is being compacted: Standard for packaging, Heavy Duty for compacted food waste, Extra Heavy Duty for sludge and scrap metal trimmings.
By building and volume
Grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals and hotel kitchens usually need a self-contained unit, and a 2 yard cart tipper saves lifting heavy wet carts. Offices and retail stores with steady dry waste fit a single ram stationary unit. Warehouses and distribution centers with 30 or more yards of dry waste a week fit a dual ram. Apartment buildings, condos and hotels with small trash rooms look at the apartment / mini compactor.
Compactor or Open Container?
A compactor crushes waste with a hydraulic ram, so the same box holds two to four times more material before it is hauled. It costs more, draws power and has moving parts. An open-top container costs less and has nothing to maintain, but gets hauled more often.
Compactor vs. container: how to run the mathCompactors for NYC Buildings
Our shop on Varick Avenue in Brooklyn is a short drive from every borough. The self-contained compactor has an NYC model that stands 96 inches tall and weighs about 10,000 lbs. Self-contained units keep wet waste from restaurants and food processors sealed so it does not leak onto the sidewalk or into the truck. For apartment buildings, the mini compactor fits through a standard freight elevator door.
Cooper Tank in New York CityCommercial Compactor FAQ
What is the difference between a self-contained and a stationary compactor?
In a self-contained compactor the ram and the container are one sealed unit, and the whole unit hauls off when full. That sealed design is what you need for wet waste such as food scraps and liquids. In a stationary compactor the ram stays fixed at the building and only the receiving container hauls off. Stationary units are the better fit for high-volume dry waste like cardboard, paper and plastic film. Many large commercial properties use both.
What size commercial compactor do I need?
Cooper Tank self-contained compactors come with 15 to 35 cubic yard containers and a 2 yard charge box. Stationary compactors come with 2 or 3 yard charge boxes and feed receiving containers from 30 to 50 yards. Apartment units run 1 to 2 yards. The right size depends on how much waste the site makes each day and how often it is picked up. Call (718) 497-4431 with the waste type and a daily or weekly volume estimate.
Which compactor works for an apartment building in New York City?
Buildings with tight trash rooms usually look at the apartment / mini compactor. It is 1 to 2 cubic yards, fits through standard freight elevator doors, runs quietly enough for residential noise ordinances, and has a 120V single-phase option along with 208V 3-phase. Larger buildings with wet waste or a dock may need a self-contained or stationary unit instead. Call with the unit count, trash room dimensions and whether the building has a chute.
Is a compactor worth it compared with an open container?
A compactor holds two to four times more material than the same box without a ram, so it pays off when a site is paying for frequent hauls of waste that compresses. Below that, an open-top container costs less to buy and has nothing to maintain.
Do you sell receiving containers on their own?
Yes. Cooper Tank builds receiving containers in 30, 34, 40, 42 and 50 cubic yard sizes, in Standard, Heavy Duty and Extra Heavy Duty builds, with quick-connect coupler plates and cable roll-off or hook lift compatibility. Call (718) 497-4431 with the make and model of the compactor it needs to mate with.
What about installation, electrical hookup and service?
Those depend on the building and the unit. Power options for each model are listed in the table above. For anything about installation, electrical work or ongoing service, call (718) 497-4431 and ask before you order.
Where do you deliver compactors?
Cooper Tank builds its compactors at the East Coast Containers plant in Waterbury, CT, handles sales and repair from Brooklyn, and delivers across New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast. Call (718) 497-4431 with the delivery address.
Get a Compactor Quote
Call our Brooklyn office or request a quote online with the waste type, weekly volume, building type and delivery address.