Abstract: A control circuit for a refuse compactor having a compacting ram driven by a reversing electric motor for compacting refuse placed in a receptacle in the compactor. A tilt switch is associated with the receptacle and a control circuit for plug reversing the ram drive motor as a result of the tilt switch sensing a tilted condition of the receptacle during the compaction operation so as to return the ram to a retracted position as a result of such sensed tilted condition. The plug reversal operation is effected during novel utilization of the normal motor direction reversing switch of the control with the tilt switch being connected selectively in series with or in parallel with the reversing switch in different embodiments of the invention.