Abstract: A refuse carrier is described of the type consisting of a motor vehicle having a compartment adapted to receive and compact refuse. The novel feature relates to a loading and compacting mechanism comprising a pusher-blade extending across a lower portion of the compartment with a telescopic hydraulic cylinder for moving the pusher-blade horizontally backward and forward between a refuse-receiving position and refuse-compacting position. A bucket is pivotally mounted along the upper edge of the blade for pivotal movement between a lower refuse-receiving position and an upper refuse-discharging position. One or more cam wheels is articulated between the bucket and the blade by means of pivotal arms and a cam guideway forms an incline path between a lower refuse-receiving position and an upper refuse-discharging and compacting position.