Baltimore's Mr. Trash Wheel Celebrates 12th Birthday

Waterfront Partnership to host Earth Day party for beloved harbor cleanup robot

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:41am

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Mr. Trash Wheel, the iconic trash-collecting device that has removed over 3,681 tons of debris from Baltimore's Inner Harbor since 2014, is celebrating its 12th birthday with a special Earth Day party hosted by the Waterfront Partnership's Healthy Harbor Initiative. The event will feature a fan art gallery, lawn games, and other festivities to honor the harbor's most beloved environmental hero.

Why it matters

Mr. Trash Wheel has become a beloved symbol of Baltimore's commitment to cleaning up its waterways and raising awareness about the problem of plastic pollution. The annual birthday celebration helps drive continued support and engagement around the Healthy Harbor Initiative's year-round programs.

The details

Since its installation in 2014, Mr. Trash Wheel and the three other trash wheels in the Baltimore Harbor have collectively removed over 3,681 tons of trash, which the Waterfront Partnership equates to about 30 blue whales. The top items collected are cigarette butts, plastic water bottles, and plastic bags. This year's Earth Day birthday party will feature a fan art gallery showcasing creative tributes to Mr. Trash Wheel, as well as a lawn party with games and other festivities.

  • Mr. Trash Wheel was installed in the Inner Harbor in 2014.
  • The Healthy Harbor Initiative's Earth Day birthday party for Mr. Trash Wheel will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The players

Mr. Trash Wheel

An iconic trash-collecting device that has removed over 3,681 tons of debris from Baltimore's Inner Harbor since 2014.

Waterfront Partnership's Healthy Harbor Initiative

The organization hosting the annual Earth Day birthday party for Mr. Trash Wheel to support its year-round programs for cleaning up Baltimore's waterways.

John Kellett

The man who invented Mr. Trash Wheel in response to the high levels of trash in the Baltimore Harbor.

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What they’re saying

“We had a lot of trash in our harbor. It wasn't getting cleaned out as much. A man named John Kellett, who worked on the water, was like, 'I want to do something about that.'”

— Chelsea Anspach, with the Waterfront Partnership (wbal.com)

“Collectively, they have done over 3,000 tons of trash. We like to say that's about 30 blue whales. So that's a lot.”

— Chelsea Anspach, with the Waterfront Partnership (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Healthy Harbor Initiative's Earth Day birthday party for Mr. Trash Wheel will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The takeaway

Mr. Trash Wheel has become an iconic symbol of Baltimore's commitment to cleaning up its waterways and raising awareness about plastic pollution. The annual birthday celebration helps drive continued support and engagement around the Healthy Harbor Initiative's important work.