USING THE POWER OF NATURE TO CLEAN THE OCEANS
Mr. Trash Wheel is a semi-autonomous trash interceptor that is placed at the end of a river, stream or other outfall.
Far too lazy to chase trash around the ocean, Mr. Trash Wheel stays put and waits for the waste to flow to him.
Sustainably powered and built to withstand the biggest storms, Mr. Trash Wheel uses a unique blend of solar and hydro power to pull hundreds of tons of trash out of the water each year.
STEP 1:
FUNNEL THE TRASH
Using containment booms, trash flowing down the river is funneled into Mr. Trash Wheel’s gaping mouth.
The booms have a 2-foot skirt that allows them to capture trash floating beneath the surface.
Fun Fact: The trash booms also help stop oil slicks from polluting the water.
STEP 2:
RAKE AND CONVEY
Powered by the sun and the current of the river, Mr. Trash Wheel’s rake lifts litter out of the water and onto his conveyor belt.
The conveyor belt moves very slowly but is strong enough to lift anything that comes down the river including tires, mattress, and even trees.
STEP 3:
FEEL THE CHURN
Mr. Trash Wheel’s giant, 14-foot, water wheel is the engine that powers his rakes and conveyor.
When there’s not enough water current, solar panels power pumps that pump water on to the wheel to keep it churning.
Fun Fact: Mr. Trash Wheel can operate in tidal waterways, which means he keeps churning even if the river is flowing upstream!
STEP 4:
INTO THE DUMPSTER
When trash reaches the top of the conveyor belt it falls into a dumpster sitting on a separate floating barge. Once the dumpster fills it is towed away and replaced with an empty dumpster.
Ideally, the plastic Mr. Trash Wheel picks up gets recycled, but current sorting technologies are unable to separate the plastics from all the other trash. For the time being, the best alternative is to incinerate the trash to create electricity.
The first trash interceptor of its kind, Mr. Trash Wheel, was invented by environmental scientist and shipbuilder John Kellett and commissioned by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore. It was installed in May 2014 at the mouth of the Jones Falls and is operated by Clearwater Mills LLC.
Today Mr. Trash Wheel and his family of semiautonomous trash interceptors have become social media celebrities and Baltimore landmarks thanks to the help of WPB's Adam Lindquist, who added googly eyes and named the invention to help engage the community. This is just the beginning of the Mr. Trash Wheel saga, discover the full history of Mr. Trash Wheel here!
Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and promoting the waterfront district, parks, and public spaces. We create welcoming programs, events, and recreational experiences while working toward a healthy harbor. We are committed to fostering connections among diverse communities to ensure equitable access to our blue and green spaces.
Meet The Hands Behind The Revolution
Environmental scientist and shipbuilder John Kellett was inspired to invent Mr. Trash Wheel during his morning walk to work. As he crossed a footbridge over the Jones Falls River, he saw what looked like a conveyor belt of trash flowing into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Clearwater Mills LLC. was founded in 2007 with the ambitious goal of stemming the flow of trash into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.