Abstract: There is disclosed compaction apparatus for waste management and recycling purposes including a hydraulic cylinder driven ram capable of exerting very large forces to compact waste paper, trash, or similar commercial or residential waste material. The hydraulic system of the apparatus includes a pump powered by a large electric motor. Forward and reverse motion of the ram is controlled by solenoid valves controlled by limit switches or position sensing switches responding to ram position, and in some cases to time delay devices coordinated with the travel time of the ram. Means for sensing a high resistive force encountered by the ram indicates that a waste container is full or nearly full or in certain apparatus may indicate a need to reverse a baler ram to a rest position to receive more waste material.

Abstract: A trash compaction apparatus, specifically a waste paper baler, incorporating an improvement in the controls for the apparatus whereby proper identification from a proposed operator is required to start a compaction operation. In particular, the compaction apparatus has associated therewith a magnetic stripe card reader and a computer. In the computer memory, data is stored which may be compared with data read by the card reader from a would-be operator of the apparatus to determine if such person is an authorized operator. An input-output unit is provided for inputting the data for the authorized operator ID function. A calendar and a clock in the computer enables a log to be created in computer memory with date, time and identification data for each attempted operation of the apparatus. The computer calendar routine can also optionally determine if a would-be operator has attained an age required for safe and legal apparatus operation.