This epic hero of trash removal has gobbled up more than 1 million pounds of garbage
The world needs more heroes, even if those heroes are solar-powered water wheels.
Mr. Trash Wheel, the googly-eyed, trash-gathering water wheel that's been keeping Baltimore Harbor clean since 2014, recently inspired us all by hitting a huge milestone: he's removed more than one million pounds of garbage from Baltimore's waterways.
Woah, baby.
Adam Lindquist, manager of the Mr. Trash Wheel Project, explained to Mashable that Baltimore currently has two Trash Wheels -- Mr. Trash Wheel, who was installed in May 2014, and Professor Trash Wheel, installed last December.
"Together they have collected around 1.1 million pounds of trash and debris from the Baltimore Harbor," he explained. The 1,094,340 pounds of trash removed includes an impressive 8,965,600 cigarette butts, 372,650 plastic bottles and 257,337 grocery bags.
According to the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore's website, the wheels, built by Clearwater Mills, operate by gaining power from Baltimore currents. The currents turn the water wheel and lift trash and debris from the water, transferring it into their mouths, I mean dumpster barges. And when there's not enough water current to generate power? That's where the solar panels come in.
Not only is Mr. Trash Wheel adorable and great at keeping Baltimore clean, but also, all the trash he collects is incinerated and used to generate electricity.
Lindquist explained that the collection data has even been used to push for legislation that would "ban plastic bags and phase out polystyrene."
"I really believe this is a game changing technology for addressing the issue of plastics in our oceans in a way that is proven, cost effective and sustainably powered," Lindquist said.
As Business Insider reported, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore is so pleased with Mr. Trash Wheel's positive contributions to the environment they're fundraising for another water wheel — a Mrs. Trash Wheel, perhaps?
Topics Sustainability
Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.
