Abstract: A manually-operated refuse compactor apparatus includes a lower platen and an upper platen extending generally parallel to and spaced above the lower platen, a frame structure stationarily supporting the lower platen and positioning the upper platen in alignment above the lower platen, and a pair of yieldable reciprocal support mechanisms attached to the frame structure and yieldably supporting the upper platen from the frame structure for undergoing reciprocal rectilinear movement toward and away from the lower platen for crushing items between the platens. The frame structure has upright post members between and along which the upper platen is slidably mounted for the rectilinear reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower platen. The yieldable reciprocal support mechanisms are stretchable to permit downward movement of the upper platen and are also retractable to cause return movement of the upper platen to an upper home position.