A refuse collection vehicle body having a receiving hopper with a pendulum packer device mounted for arcuate movement therewithin, a tapered storage compartment for receiving refuse material from the receiving hopper, a tailgate assembly having a pneumatic mechanism for controlling the tailgate latch mechanism, and an ejection system for dumping the refuse material collected within the storage compartment, the storage compartment having a trough or channel associated with its top portion for housing the hydraulic cylinders associated with the pendulum packer device and the tailgate assembly. The hydraulic cylinder associated with the ejection system as well as the hydraulic tank and hydraulic fluid cooler associated with the vehicle body are all positioned over hazmat containment devices to contain any leakage from these components during normal operation. The tapered storage compartment is formed by joining two rectangular sheets of material to a pair of wedge shaped members.

A material handling system including a receptacle; a loading opening disposed within the receptacle; a transfer opening disposed within the receptacle in adjacent angled relation to the loading opening; and a first compaction plate rotatably coupled proximate the receptacle between the loading opening and the transfer opening. As to particular embodiments, the material handling system can further include a second compaction plate movably disposed proximate the transfer opening. Upon rotation of the first compaction plate toward the second compaction plate in an immovable condition, material disposed between the first and second compaction plates is compacted to generate compacted material. As to particular embodiments, the material handling system can further include a rotatable arm and a rotatable gripper rotatably coupled to a rotatable arm first end. As to particular embodiments, the rotatable arm can be rotatably coupled to an extendable arm which can reversibly extend laterally outward.