‘Mr. Trash Wheel’ is located in the harbour of the Baltimore, USA and it has pulled in over 500 000 kilograms of litter and junk floating in the water since 2014.
The trash wheel was set up in 2014 as part of a project to make the water in the harbor of Baltimore swimmable and fishing friendly by 2020. It was designed by Daniel Chase and John Kellet and was named Mr. Trash Wheel by the locals.
“The river’s current provides power to turn the water wheel, which lifts trash and debris from the water and deposits it into a dumpster barge. When there isn’t enough water current, a solar panel array provides additional power to keep the machine running.”
Making use of hydro and solar power ensures that while the barge collects litter and junk to clean the environment, that it is also being green and using natural resources to operate making the project completely environmentally friendly.
“Trash collected by the Water Wheel is incinerated to generate electricity.”
“On a sunny day, the solar panels can produce 2,500 watts of electricity—enough to power a typical Maryland home.”
Over the years the wheel has collected over 372,650 plastic bottles, 464,947 polystyrene containers and 257,337 plastic grocery bags. That is just to name a few items.
The idea has been adopted by a few other harbors around America. It will be great to see it added to every harbor to help massively cut back on pollution that enters the oceans.
“Trash comes from people who throw garbage on the ground instead of putting it in a trash can or recycling bin. When it rains, water carries this garbage off streets and into storm drains, which flow unfiltered into neighborhood streams. These streams carry the trash into the Harbor and oceans.”
Watch the awesome video below:
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