Abstract: An apparatus for the compaction of articles, e.g., disposable metal cans or disposable plastic bottles, includes a pair of mutually counter-rotatable, interacting squeeze rollers, wherein the first roller has a fixed support and wherein the second roller is supported in an arm-spring assembly, thereby enabling the space between the rollers to be varied according to the size and compactability of the article. In addition, the apparatus has a precompactor that includes a conveyor, e.g., a belt or chain conveyor, and an elongate press plate inclined relative to the conveyor and preferably spring-loaded, to ensure that the article is gradually flattened upstream of the squeeze rollers. The squeeze roller may be provided with an incurvate middle portion and, optionally with openings having an L, U or V-shaped cross section with gripping edges in order to facilitate the feeding of the articles, such as bottles having a mouth and bottom nipple, through the compactor.