Floating ‘Trash Wheels’ Clean Up 1 Million Pounds of Debris in Baltimore’s Harbor

via My Modern Met

Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel sounds like cute cartoon characters, but they are actually garbage fighting machines that are helping clean up Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. These solar- and hydro-powered trash interceptors have effectively been combatting water pollution since 2014.

The concept was first suggested by local sailor and engineer John Kellett, who eventually gained the support of non-profit Water Partnership of Baltimore to execute his plan. Solar panels and river currents turn the wheel, which activates a conveyor belt. The trash gets pulled in by floating containment booms and lifted by rotating forks onto the conveyor belt. It’s then deposited in a dumpster, which is emptied when full.

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3 Comments

  1. The source links seem to require an Old Reader account, could you add direct links please?

  2. Your link is broken. It’s a private link just for you and we can’t use it.

    Also, the resistor puzzle to submit a comment doesn’t work on iPads.

  3. Updated!

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