Triple trommels at the Tajiguas Landfill help produce high-quality compost while reducing landfill volume

Perched on the hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, California, the Tajiguas Landfill isn't your typical landfill operation. Due to a cutting-edge compost management system and the forward-thinking approach of the County of Santa Barbara's Public Works Department, the site is setting a new standard for sustainable waste management.

At the heart of this operation is supervisor Dylan Ellis, who leads the charge at the landfill's compost management unit. With a focus on maximizing organic waste diversion, reducing environmental impact, and producing high-quality compost, Ellis and his team have invested in advanced equipment from Powerscreen of California, Nevada & Hawaii.

Beyond traditional waste management

The compost management unit at the Tajiguas Landfill is part of an innovative combined project that includes an anaerobic digestion facility. The facility is designed to process the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) material, which would otherwise take up space in the landfill, into usable products through a multi-stage system utilizing three Terex Ecotec Phoenix 3300 trommel screeners.

The facility takes in the organic fraction of MSW from the material recycling facility and anaerobically digests that material for 35 to 40 days. They then use three Phoenix 3300 trommel screeners to further screen the material to meet product quality needs.   

The result is an efficient process that not only reduces landfill volume but also produces valuable compost and clean, reusable material, turning waste into a resource.

Strategic screening process

Once the anaerobic digestion process is complete, the material heads to the trommel screeners for the next critical stage of processing. The incoming material typically ranges from three-inch-minus size, combined with source-separated organics.

The screening process is done in three stages using the Phoenix 3300 trommel screeners: initial screening at two inches, secondary screening at five-eighths inch, then final screening at one quarter inch.

After screening through each of the trommels, the material is then directed to their densimetric table, where it undergoes forced air separation. This step removes any one-quarter-inch-minus fraction of glass and rocks, helping ensure that the final product meets their strict compost quality standards.

As the largest trommel screener in the Ecotec lineup, the Phoenix 3300 is capable of handling high volumes while providing precise control over screening parameters. The Phoenix 3300 has several key features that have proven essential for the landfill's operation, including its 30-foot 6-inch by 7-foot 6-inch drum, 10.2-cubic-yard hopper, and 180-degree swivel fines conveyor with a 19-foot discharge height.

Ellis says other key features he values are the variable speed control with load sensing and automatic feeder shutoff, a four-wheel-drive system with high-performance friction grip wheels, and the ability to operate the drum in both directions. This suite of features provides maximum control, allowing operators to adjust for varying material characteristics, including inconsistent moisture content, a common challenge at the site.

Operator control is key

"These machines are incredible, especially when it comes to control," says Ellis. Given the nature of the material processed at Tajiguas, moisture levels can vary widely, which adds complexity to the screening process. The flexibility to fine-tune machine speeds and adjust screening performance on the fly is one of the main reasons Ellis and his team opted for the Phoenix 3300 units.

"We do not have a consistent moisture content here, which requires flexibility in how I control the machines to produce the correct materials we need," he adds. "That flexibility is a major reason why we went with the Phoenix 3300 trommels."

The ability to manage drum speed, belt speed, and fines conveyor direction through remote operation not only boosts production efficiency but also minimizes downtime, keeping the operation running smoothly even in tough conditions.

A model for sustainable waste management

With landfill capacity at a premium and environmental stewardship a growing priority, the Tajiguas Landfill's compost management unit stands as a model for integrated, sustainable waste processing. The use of anaerobic digestion combined with effective mechanical screening and air separation not only diverts waste from the landfill but also produces high-quality compost that benefits the community.

The choice of machinery like the Terex Ecotec Phoenix 3300 Trommel Screener, paired with responsive dealer support, has enabled Ellis and his team to maintain high production rates while meeting strict quality requirements.

As Ellis and the County of Santa Barbara's Public Works Department continue their work at the Tajiguas Landfill, the focus remains on improving efficiency, maximizing material recovery, and providing environmentally sound waste solutions.

For Ellis, it's about more than just machines; it's about having the tools and support needed to make a real impact on the way waste is handled in Santa Barbara County and the surrounding SoCal communities.

This article originally appeared in the November/December issue of Recycling Product News.