ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The Compax stand is small, but it is attracting a great deal of attention.

"Our waste bin is great. It sucks" is the line emblazoned across stand 12.606 and this more or less sums up the company's product.

Compax uses patented vacuum technology in its bins to compress customers' used paper towels by 95 per cent, dramatically reducing their waste burden.

"Companies that previously needed to empty their washroom bins every weekday can now reduce this to once every four weeks," said chief operating officer Terje Bogevik.

The receptacles feature a motion sensor that gathers washroom traffic data to help customers assess when their bins are likely to be full. Once the bin has been filled up, compression begins automatically and the lid of the unit closes for a full minute while the process takes place.

This can be inconvenient in high-traffic washrooms, admits Bogevik. "In a very busy washroom we usually recommend that the customer installs several units so that a bin is always available," he said.

Between 20 and 40 per cent of the waste volume of buildings comes from washroom hand towels, according to the company. And the plastic bags in which they are thrown away are mostly filled with air.

Compax is a Norwegian start-up which is making its Interclean debut this week. And business has been brisk, with multiple demonstrations - using a small mattress rather than paper towels - being carried out.

"There has definitely been a lot of interest," said Bogevik.