A waste compactor configured to compact waste into a plurality of compacted waste units for disposal in a waste container. There is a compaction chamber and a ram assembly disposed within the compaction chamber. There is an actuator interconnected to the ram assembly to apply a force to move the ram assembly from a retracted position toward an extended position to achieve a pressure on a compaction surface of the ram assembly as it compacts the waste. There is a plurality of apertures on at least one internal surface proximate of the compaction chamber through which liquid removed from the waste during the compaction mode exits the compaction chamber. There is also a liquid collection system, in communication with the plurality of apertures, to collect the liquid from the plurality of apertures. The liquid collection system includes an evaporation system configured to evaporate a portion of the liquid.