Mr. Trash Wheel uses the power of the sun to clean the water
Ir. Martijn C. de Kuijer
Senior ITS Integration Manager & Consultant specializing in Intelligent Transport Systems, Smart Mobility, and Renewable Energy. Expert in planning, optimization, passenger counting, and real-time systems.
Mr. Trash Wheel is a solar- and hydro-powered waste interceptor in Baltimore's Inner Harbour that clears debris before it enters Chesapeake Bay. Since its installation in May 2014, Mr. Trash Wheel removed more than half a million kilos of waste from the water.
The spiritual father of Mr. Trash Wheel, John Kellett, worked on the harbor for years and saw trash floating on the water every day. A sailor and engineer, he approached the city and offered to try to clear the harbor. He built a pilot waste wheel and then installed it in 2008.
Sustainably powered
Too lazy to chase garbage around the ocean, Mr. Trash Wheel and wait for the trash to flow to him. Sustainably powered and built to withstand the biggest storms, Mr. Trash Wheel a unique blend of solar and hydro power to remove hundreds of tons of waste from the water every year.
With the help of containment booms, waste flowing over the river is directed to Mr. Trash Wheel guided. The booms have a half meter long skirt that allows them to collect waste that floats below the surface. Fun fact: The booms also help prevent oil spills from polluting the water.
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Generating and using energy
Powered by the sun and the current of the river, Mr. Trash Wheel the waste out of the water and on top of his conveyor belt. The conveyor belt moves very slowly but is strong enough to lift anything that comes down the river, including tires, mattresses, and even trees.
The gigantic four-meter water wheel is the motor that drives the rakes and conveyor belt. When there is not enough water flow, solar panels drive the pumps that pump water to the wheel for churning.
When waste reaches the top of the conveyor belt, it falls into a container that sits on a separate floating vessel. Once the container is full, it is towed away and replaced with an empty container. Ideally, the plastic Mr. Trash Wheel collects recycled, but current sorting technologies are unable to separate the plastic from all other waste. For now, the best alternative is to incinerate the waste to generate electricity.