Compactors
I have a KM compactor purchased the same time as my LK electronic washer-dryer set, KM electronic DW, and Wards microwave (with the now-extinct browning element), 1978. In the house it was originally installed in, it was somewhat more useful than now because the garbage cans there were in the backyard. I had to take the trash all the way out the front door, across the front yard, and down the driveway to empty the trash. Before the cmpactor, we had a regular trash can, which would often fill up with just 2-3 things if they were bulky items like milk cartons, cereal boxes. Even then, we didn't put garbage in it, that went down the disposal. Glass, cans went in then, but nowadays that's recycled. Where it is now is actually only a few steps away from the side door where we keep the trash cans, so it's not used as much as before, but it still gets used a lot, especially when cooking where it's a few steps closer and we just leave it open to chuck things into and not have to go more steps, open the side door, then open the lid to the trash receptacles. Never had a problem with flies or roaches with it. And it's only broken down once since 1978 (plastic bag got wrapped around the jackscrew, WP incorporated a plastic protector sleeve on the jackscrew on later models) and the automatic deodorizer mechanism doesn't work anymore, but otherwise OK. So far bag availability hasn't been a problem with Sears, and one doesn't actually HAVE to use the "official" bags, so the directions say.