The present invention is directed toward a new and improved compactor or packer. The compactor, which may be used to compact refuse, includes a container, a track disposed within the container, and a ball screw rotatably disposed within the track. The compactor further includes a ball nut operatively coupled around the ball screw, where rotation of the ball screw causes the ball nut to move along or traverse the ball screw. A packer blade is coupled to the ball nut via a floating interface. Movement of the ball nut long the ball screw due to rotation of the ball screw forces the packer blade to move within the container. The floating interface allows the packer blade to float within the container with respect to the ball nut to reduce the likelihood of binding of the ball nut on the ball screw as the packer blade traverses within the container.

A collection apparatus weight and fullness level reporting system includes: an inlet; a removable collection bin receiving material placed into the collection apparatus; a compacting mechanism including a ram body, wherein the ram body travels between a home position located above the collection bin to a maximum travel position located inside the collection bin, wherein during each compaction cycle the ram body travels along a variable length of the compaction path; a fullness-reporting module that determines the height of the material in the collection bin; and a controller that determines the length of the compaction path the ram body travels during each compaction cycle based on the input received from the fullness reporting module, wherein at the end of each compaction cycle in which the material height is below a maximum height, the ram body is brought to rest at a height below the home position.