Abstract: A refuse compaction apparatus adapted to be mounted upon a vehicle chassis. The apparatus is constructed as an integral unit and includes a refuse loading compartment and a refuse storage compartment. Movable longitudinally within the storage compartment is a large compaction blade adapted to move refuse rearwardly of the compartment and controllably compress it against the rear wall thereof. Located intermediate the loading and storage compartments is a unique transition mechanism adapted to cooperate with a pusher mechanism reciprocally movable within the loading compartment to cleanly transfer the refuse from the loading compartment into a position where it can be engaged by the compaction blade and moved rearwardly of the storage compartment for compaction. With this unique construction, fall-back of the refuse into the loading compartment is totally eliminated and highly efficient compaction and loading of the refuse within the storage compartment can be realized.