July 2026

Eastern Laramie County Solid Waste Disposal District’s approach to maximizing airspace while improving operational efficiency.

For Tire Reclaim, a tire recycling company operating in the Pacific Northwest, Tana Shark Shredders have become an important part of the business. When collecting and recycling tires, reducing their size by using the Tana machines makes them more transportable and the business more cost-effective.

“The profitability of being able to remove tires and reduce the size versus hauling whole tires is very foundational to the success of our business. The mobile Tana shredder is able to go to the site, reduce the size, and allow us to transport accordingly. The shredders are also equipped with cross-belt magnets for separating metals out from the tires,” says Craig Hunter, President of Tire Reclaim. While this cuts down on the volume of the tires even further, the company also turns a profit from recycling the recovered metals.

Tana pairs its quality hardware with advanced software innovations to ensure customers get the most out of their machines. TanaConnect® (previously ProTrack) is a smart system for gaining performance metrics and maintaining the optimal operation of the equipment. Hunter points to the advantages TanaConnect® affords his company:

“One of the biggest features for me as the president is being able to log in to the TanaConnect®  system. It gives me real-time numbers and reports, breakdowns, and things like that. From what I can see on the computer screen, I can gauge whether we’ll be able to move to another job soon or not. The TanaConnect® is a big selling feature for me.”

To maintain the highest standards of customer service, Tana & Humdinger provides prompt support to address any issues or concerns that may arise. According to Hunter, Tana’s excellent communication with its customers is a great benefit to Tire Reclaim.

He explains there is a direct line of communication between their operator management and Humdinger Equipment, so they are able to have real-time recommendations for repairs which results in minimal down-time.

Hunter says, “I would say that the customer service from Tana has been far and above what we expected.”

To learn more about Tana shredders, visit https://www.humdingerequipment.com/products/low-speed-shredder/.

Combining the reliability and versatility of the Tana landfill compactor and shredder with smart software solutions and responsive technical support, Tana products provide high compaction rates and minimal downtime to waste operations.

The Mountain View Regional Waste Commission in Alberta, Canada, operates a Tana Shark DT shredder and the Tana E380 compactor. In contrast to previously used products from other suppliers, Landfill Manager Ryan Verbonac says the Commission has seen its compaction rate go through the roof.

Looking at the shredder, Verbonac says the Shark shredder has been a solid tool on the site and a superior product by comparison to other machines:

“Our operators have really enjoyed running it. We’ve had two other shredders here.”

The Tana is a particularly versatile shredder, so no matter the waste stream, shredding can be done with one machine rather than multiple pieces of equipment. This expedites the process, contributing to the exceptional rate of compaction.

Verbonac explains, “The shredder can do mattresses, wood, tree branches, all that stuff,” and the end product compacts so well that shredding mattresses alone will almost recoup the price of the machine.

Downtimes cost time and money, so keeping things up and running is a priority for any operation. The machines are built for durability, while the TanaConnect® (Previously ProTrak) information management system facilitates fast and effective troubleshooting in the event of any disruptions.

TanaConnect® allows overseeing the machines while they’re running and quickly honing in on the cause of an interruption to the usual performance of the equipment. As the system helps identify the source of technical issues, the service dealer can promptly arrive on-site, ready to repair the problem and return the machine to normal operation. Replacement parts between the shredder and compactor are also similar and sometimes interchangeable, which also aids in minimizing downtime.

“The most downtime we’ve had in two and a half years is maybe two hours,” Verbonac says.

According to Verbonac, with their versatility, reliability, and great service, the Tana machines have raised the bar in landfill waste management for the Mountain View Waste Commission:

“It’s far beyond what the competition ever supplied to us.”

To learn more about Tana Landfill Compactors, visit https://www.humdingerequipment.com/products/landfill-compactor/.

To learn more about Tana shredders, visit https://www.humdingerequipment.com/products/low-speed-shredder/.

Convenient to operate and easy to service, Tana compactors are designed for efficient longevity in solid waste management.

In one of the largest landfills in Western Canada, located in Ryley, Alberta, Tana machines have been reliably compacting for a decade. Janet Tecklenborg, Director of Facilities at Claystone Waste, has no trouble identifying why their facility has worked with Tana equipment over the long haul.

“The reason is we like how compaction is with the machine. It works really well with MSW, or municipal solid waste.”

Tana units are purpose-built for fast compaction. The high-visibility compactor cabin eliminates any blind spots, and the full-width twin-drum configuration minimizes the passes required. The machines easily overcome any materials being processed while affording operators the best possible conditions for getting the job done. Tecklenborg confirms that Tana’s attention to detail in all the important features has not gone to waste.

“Our operators like that there are minimal blind spots on the sides, which makes it safer and easier to operate. They like the seating position, high compactor cabin visibility, and they like the space in the cab.”

The fact that Claystone has used Tana landfill equipment since they came onto the market is no coincidence. The machines’ high durability is bolstered by Tana’s approach to maximizing the life span of its products. Smart technology helps discover the cause of any technical malfunction, and accessible components greatly expedite the work of service staff. Any interruptions to operation are thus kept as rare and brief as possible. Tana & Humdinger’s communication with its customers is also top-notch, as Tecklenborg will attest.

“The equipment is designed with serviceability in mind. It’s easy to access for mechanics. From a customer service perspective, with any warranty issues that we’ve had, we’ve seen prompt response times, and they’re able to get back to us quickly. We’re quite pleased with the customer service.”

Based on the experiences at Claystone, working with the kind of refuse they’re receiving in their landfill, Tecklenborg has no qualms about recommending Tana products to professionals in waste management.

“Especially in the municipal solid waste environment, I would suggest that a Tana would be a good fit.”

To learn more about Tana Landfill Compactors, visit https://www.humdingerequipment.com/products/landfill-compactor/.

Charlotte County, Florida, Public Works Solid Waste Division uses the Tana H380 and H555 compactors in their landfill. The Tana machines combine a twin-drum design with good visibility and intuitive controls inside the cabin for fast and easy operation.

According to Christopher Hill, Senior Lead Operator for Charlotte County, switching over to Tana brought an immediate change in compaction for the county. It has enabled them to serve customers more quickly and reduced the time taken up by compaction overall.

One of the standout features of the Tana compactors is their twin-drum construction. Compared to four-wheeled machines, the solid drums cover the full width of the compactor over each pass. This results in smoothly compacted waste with fewer passes.

“These machines have a solid drum in the front. When you’re working with a four-wheeled compactor, you’re always chasing the middle. This solid drum cuts down your passes,” Hill explains. With the cabin positioned in the front frame, right behind the blade, the blade’s orientation is fixed to the steering of the compactor. This is another benefit to operators.

“You’re following the blade instead of chasing it. This is perfect because you know when you turn, you’re going that way,” Hill notes.

The cabin is designed for maximum comfort and operability. The glass windows provide excellent visibility, which is further enhanced by a camera set up high to provide a bird’s eye view of the surroundings and a rearview camera to cover any potential blind spots in that direction.

There are no pedals for braking and accelerating. Instead, all controls are within arm’s reach with the joysticks and buttons. This includes steering the machine, maneuvering the blade, controlling the lights, changing speed, and so on. There’s a control panel to the right of the operator displaying information, including temperature and fuel status.

“Everything’s right there at your fingertips,” Hill says.

Tana & Humdinger’s dedication to serving its customers at a high level is reflected in Hill’s experience with the company.

“The customer service for this machine is awesome. Whenever something breaks down or we have any issues with the machine or services, they’re right on it. We just make a phone call, and they’re here, they’re letting us know what’s going on.”

Overall, Hill makes it clear that Tana is the right choice when looking for a powerful and efficient landfill compactor: “I would encourage everybody to buy this machine, it’s a great machine. I tell people about it all the time.”

To learn more about Tana Landfill Compactors, visit https://www.humdingerequipment.com/products/landfill-compactor/

In November 2020, Pickens County, South Carolina, had a problem on its hands: an overflowing landfill that was just two weeks away from closure by its regulatory agency. With a landfill exceeding its capacity by about 28,000 cubic yards, an urgent solution was required.

“We didn’t have any other options, so we started hauling materials,” recounts Steve Raines, Director of Solid Waste for Pickens County, as he looks back on the dire situation.

However, it wasn’t going to be nearly enough. At the landfill, they were still just barely trucking away enough materials to keep up with what was coming in. Since hauling things away wasn’t enough to meet regulatory compliance, the excess volume had to be dealt with on-site. That’s when the Solid Waste Department, headed by Raines, started looking into shredders. They needed a machine that could handle the challenging materials that were coming in.

“We looked at over 700 shredders, and Tana was the only one that they told us you could put a mattress in, so that’s the one we demoed. Within three weeks, we had one ordered and, on its way, here,” Raines says.

The department began work with the Tana Shark Shredder, and it turned out to be a powerful tool. Not only did it help fix the overcapacity problem and meet regulatory compliance, but it was so effective that the landfill’s impending closure was avoided altogether. After six months of working with the shredder, the landfill was below capacity by 160-180 thousand cubic yards. Additionally, metals recovered from shredded materials helped cover the cost of the shredder and even purchase a second one.

“The great thing about the Tana shredder is it eats just about anything. We do brush, we do tires, we do mattresses. The list of things that we run through this machine is endless,” Raines says.

“Our budget is not very huge, so we needed to reduce our costs. Getting that shredder here on site meant we could reduce our trucking costs by about 70 percent. We also cut costs on manpower, fuel, and maintenance,” Raines adds.

According to Raines, access to knowledgeable customer support for the machine has been a big positive with Tana & Humdinger. Any questions are answered promptly and thoroughly by experts who know the shredder inside and out.

“Their customer service is bar none the best I’ve ever dealt with in the construction industry.”

Meanwhile, the scarcity of airspace for landfills is a worldwide problem. There’s not a lot of space left, so making the most use of the available real estate is imperative. The versatile Tana shredders are excellent for freeing up capacity, as Raines can attest:

“I would encourage anybody to look at the Tana shredder as an option to help save some of that airspace. We take care of just about every product that comes through the landfill with that machine, and it changed everything for us. It was a game-changer.”

To learn more about Tana shredders, visit https://www.humdingerequipment.com/products/low-speed-shredder/.

For modern landfill operators, efficiency means maximizing every inch of available airspace. At the Salem County Improvement Authority (SCIA), that mindset is what landfill manager Parker Smith calls “Smart landfilling” – finding ways to process material more efficiently, improve compaction, and ultimately extend the life of the landfill

“Everything to us is airspace,” Smith explains. “We only get so much of it we’re allowed to fill. So, the volume that we can fit in that airspace means a lot to us.”

For Salem County, which processes 400 to 500 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition (C&D) material each day, making the most of permitted landfill space is a constant priority. That focus led the team to rethink how material was being processed before placement.

Rather than relying on compaction alone, Salem County began combining shredding and compaction to better break down incoming waste. By reducing bulky material before it reaches the working face, the facility can create denser fills and make better use of available airspace.

“When we shred in addition to compacting, we do see a reduction in how fast we’re filling,” Smith says.

The difference isn’t just something management sees in reports. Operators also notice it in day-to-day operations.

“The operators see that on a daily basis,” Smith says. “We’ve slowed down the filling of the airspace because we’re getting that much more volume.”

To support that approach, SCIA turned to Tana equipment after visiting other facilities, demoing machines, and evaluating the performance in real-world environments. Beyond the machine efficiency, Smith says one of the biggest advantages came from using a shredder and compactor from the same manufacturer. Shared systems and service parts simplified maintenance and helped reduce complexity for the operations and service teams.

“Having the shredder from the same manufacturer, utilizing the same filters and the same everything we were already stocking on site, it was really a win-win” Smith says.

For SCIA, smart landfilling isn’t a buzzword. It’s a practical approach to getting more value from every load that enters the site. By pairing shredding with compaction and investing in equipment built specifically for waste operations, the facility is working to maximize airspace, reduce inefficiencies, and extend the lifespan of the landfill.

To learn more about Smart Landfilling, visit https://tananorthamerica.com/landfill-operations/smart-landfilling/.

Eastern Laramie County Solid Waste Disposal District’s approach to maximizing airspace while improving operational efficiency.

For landfill operators, some materials create challenges long before they ever reach final cover. Tires, mattresses, furniture cushions, and other bulky items can consume valuable space and create ongoing operational headaches. At Eastern Laramie County Solid Waste Disposal District in Burns, Wyoming, addressing those challenges became a key part of their approach to smart landfilling.

According to Manager Mike ‘Bubba’ Ragsdale, the goal is simple: maximize airspace while improving the efficiency of daily operations.

“By smart landfilling compaction, you save airspace,” Ragsdale explains. But as the team evaluated their operation, they realized compaction alone wasn’t enough. Bulky materials were still creating problems within the landfill.

“When you bury that stuff and don’t shred it, it won’t stay buried,” Ragsdale says. “We had to find some way of getting rid of that stuff, and shredding seemed to be the best way to do it.”

Eastern Laramie County initially saw significant gains through improved compaction practices, achieving significant airspace savings. After adding shredding to their process, those savings increased even further.

“When we started shredding, that increased another 30%,” Ragsdale says. “So we’re getting 60% savings on airspace.”

For Ragsdale, seeing the impact firsthand changed his perspective on what was possible.

“It didn’t convince me that it would make that much difference until we started shredding,” he says.

Beyond the airspace savings, shredding has also improved landfill efficiency by allowing operators to achieve compaction faster and more consistently. Technology has also become an important part of Eastern Laramie County’s smart landfilling strategy. By utilizing the Carlson GPS system integrated into the TANA equipment, the team can monitor cut and fill activity while also tracking compaction data across the site.

“Not only can we determine what our cut/fills are, but what our compaction is,” Ragsdale says. “It saves time, money, fuel.”

For landfill operators facing growing volumes of waste and increasing pressure to maximize capacity, Eastern Laramie County’s experience highlights a key principle of smart landfilling: better processing leads to better results. By combining shredding, compaction, and technology-driven site management, the district has been able to reduce waste volume, improve operational efficiency, and make better use of every cubic yard of available air space.

As Ragsdale puts it, “It’s just a lot better machine than any other compactor that I’ve ever been in.”

To learn more about Smart Landfilling, visit https://tananorthamerica.com/landfill-operations/smart-landfilling/.