Compacting trash reduces the amount of solid waste by up to 80%, according to the people who sell trash compactors. But even the skeptics among us have to acknowledge that compacting—and composting—are surefire ways to reduce what ends up in the landfill.

We learned a lot about trash at the kitchen and bath show while visiting the Broan booth. For instance, that chlorine dioxide is more effective than carbon at absorbing odor and that trash has memory. Yes, memory.

Broan's new Elite series compactor can be programmed to compact trash and hold it down for two hours, giving trash a "new memory," or lower height to spring back to. Do this once a day and compact six large trash bags into one. If only it came with someone to carry the combined six bags down from a third floor walk up.