the idea behind the trommel is you're meant to have it running in the background anyway. it shouldn't be your main plan of action, its just a way to get the most out of trash resources[1]
— Mak, 1/12/2022
The trommel is a utility block capable of recycling dirt, gravel, and similar "junk" blocks into more useful resources such as clay, quartz, and olivine.
Obtaining
Crafting
Usage
To begin the sifting process, the trommel must have fuel, similar to a furnace. The Trommel has four slots in its GUI, each capable of holding a stack. A piece of coal is capable of processing 30 blocks across all four slots, but inserting multiple stacks does not increase fuel efficiency. The Trommel does not not have an output slot; any items processed are spat out unless the Trommel is connected to a chest.
A chest connected to a Trommel.
The trommel is capable of processing the following blocks: