{"id":21843,"date":"2019-05-06T01:17:39","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T08:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peewee.com\/?p=21843"},"modified":"2019-04-28T13:18:29","modified_gmt":"2019-04-28T20:18:29","slug":"say-hello-to-mr-trash-wheel-baltimores-googly-eyed-harbor-cleaner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peewee.com\/2019\/05\/06\/say-hello-to-mr-trash-wheel-baltimores-googly-eyed-harbor-cleaner\/","title":{"rendered":"Say hello to Mr. Trash Wheel: Baltimore’s googly-eyed harbor cleaner!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I can’t believe this is the first time I’m hearing of Mr. Trash Wheel!! For five years, this anthropomorphic machine has been cleaning debris out of Baltimore Harbor!<\/strong><\/p>\n\"\"\n

Colossal<\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n

Since [2014], the trash-scooping object has intercepted 638,594 plastic bags, 1,000,000 styrofoam containers, 150 miles of cigarette butts, and one ball python. Using the power of the sun, the semi-autonomous machine rakes litter out of the water and up a slow but sturdy conveyer belt. The belt is strong enough to hoist mattresses, trees, and kegs from the water and into a dumpster located on a separate barge for recycling and disposal.<\/p>\n

The device was created by sailor and engineer John Kellett who watched debris build up around Baltimore\u2019s waterfront for over twenty years. Mr. Trash Wheel has helped lead to Maryland\u2019s statewide ban on Styrofoam food containers (a first in the country), partly because of a loyal Twitter following<\/a> by local fans who are witness to the devastating amount of trash intercepted each day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Watch him in action!<\/strong><\/p>\n