Some heroes wear capes. Baltimore’s hero wears googly eyes.

In the heart of Baltimore Harbor, Mr. Trash Wheel has become both a community icon and an engineering marvel. Created by sailor and innovator John Kellett, this floating trash interceptor has one mission: stop garbage before it flows downstream. And in just eight years, he’s done exactly that—collecting more than 2,300 tons of trash and preventing it from polluting the Chesapeake Bay.

How does it work? The system is as simple as it is genius. Strategically placed at river mouths where trash naturally flows, Mr. Trash Wheel uses the power of sun and current to spin his conveyor belt “mouth,” scooping up bottles, bags, and debris. The process is entirely renewable, proving that technology and sustainability can go hand in hand.

But Mr. Trash Wheel isn’t just about efficiency, he’s a cultural phenomenon. With his wide-set eyes and quirky personality, he’s captured Baltimore’s imagination, becoming a local celebrity with a global following. Fans track his daily haul, celebrate his milestones, and rally around his mission. He even has “siblings,” other trash wheels stationed throughout the harbor, all working together to keep the city’s waterways clear.

Mr. Trash Wheel, a Rivers are Life film, highlights more than a clever invention. It’s about community pride, renewable energy, and reimagining how we fight pollution. When technology becomes approachable and fun, it builds momentum for real change.

Baltimore’s harbor looks different today because of Mr. Trash Wheel, and he’s only just getting started.