This intriguing machine, commonly known as the «Trash Wheel,» is responsible for removing floating debris from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor (United States). Today on our blog, we’ll explain how this charming contraption performs that task.
Mr. Trash Wheel, who even has an official profile on Twitter, has the unique ability to collect plastic bags, polystyrene foam containers, cigarette butts, and other debris floating on the water's surface. Its simple propulsion mechanism—a water wheel—, It is powered by solar panels as shown in the following image:
An 18-month trial has allowed it to eliminate the high amount of 350 metric tons of trash. This volume includes nearly 200,000 bottles, 173,000 plastic bags, and 6.7 million cigarette butts, in addition to many other uncountable items. A good example of this is this image, which shows what the water looks like after it has passed through:
Its creator, engineer John Kellett, sought a solution to water pollution in the Inner Harbor. After developing a promising first prototype, he secured the support of the Baltimore Water Association, an NGO dedicated to transforming the area into a pleasant destination through environmental regulations. Thanks to this institutional backing, there are currently two machines in full operation.
The waterwheel, powered by hydraulic flow and supplemented by solar energy, drives a conveyor belt that carries the waste into the machine. This is made possible by the floating barriers on either side. Once the internal waste container is full, it is towed to an external treatment plant, after which it becomes available again to continue «eating» trash from the port.
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