A trash compactor is an appliance that goes in your kitchen, to basically “smash” your trash. It’s slightly narrower than a dishwasher (you can go to images.google.com and search for trash compactor to see the different types/models). When it gets full, you throw it away.

To compost your trash is to set up a system where it biodegrades, instead of throwing it away. Most people compost food scraps, but you can also compost small amounts of other things like cardboard, paper, newspaper, etc.

There are composting machines for the kitchen, but they’re expensive and a bit ridiculous in my opinion. The best way to compost is in your back yard. I made a compost out of an empty trash can. You can google “how to compost” and find lots of different ways to do this – pick one that works best for you.