Lady K Sailing · video

What this video covers

Mr. Trash Wheel is a semi-autonomous, solar-and-water-powered trash interceptor permanently moored at the mouth of the Jones Falls in Baltimore, Maryland.1:00 Designed by John Kellett and operated by Clearwater Mills, the machine uses two floating containment booms to funnel debris toward a rake and conveyor system.3:33 The 14-foot water wheel, powered by the river's current, drives the machinery; solar panels power pumps to supplement the wheel when current is insufficient.5:40 Since its 2014 installation, the machine has removed over 2,000 tons of debris, including millions of cigarette butts and hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles.7:14 The collected waste is incinerated to generate electricity.9:48 The project uses data from the intercepted trash to track the effectiveness of local environmental policies, such as a 2020 foam container ban.9:20 The machine’s success led to the deployment of three additional units in Baltimore, including Professor Trash Wheel, Captain Trash Wheel, and Gwinda.8:41

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