WasteShark River Cleaning Robot
WasteShark, a water-based cleaning robot, was placed in the River Cleaning Robot. According to the WWF, the completely autonomous drone collects plastic and other waste as it navigates across the ocean using artificial intelligence. The Evening Standard reports that the battery-operated robot can traverse five kilometres of water and collect up to 500 kilogrammes of floating waste every day, or 22,700 plastic bottles.
The WasteShark, according to Tessa Nussenbaum (’26), a member of the Sustainability Council, is an essential remedy for the issue of plastic pollution in the River Thames.
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According to Nussenbaum, “plastic pollution is a major problem in the River Thames.” “It’s critical that we act to stop it from getting worse.”
The River Thames is one of the world’s most plastic-polluted rivers, per a recent research by Thames 21. According to the survey, the river has over 300 pieces of plastic per square metre in some areas, which is far more than the average for other rivers in the United Kingdom.
Dennis Njenga, the advisor for the Technology Office, claimed that he frequently travels along the River Thames and has personally observed the volume of plastic debris that ends up in the river. Njenga added that the new technology shows promise.
“The Thames is pretty dirty, especially where I live,” Njenga remarked. It’s wonderful to know that there is technology available that can help the environment.
Similarly, Mariam Mathew, advisor to the Sustainability Council, stated that the new technology serves as a reminder for people to accept accountability for their activities.
“I cleaned up plastic in the Paddington Basin a few years ago,” Mathew stated. It was absolutely repulsive, and you start to wonder, ‘How is this occurring all the time?’ The truth is that littering on land is where the issue essentially begins.
Additionally, according to Mathew, although the new technology will remove the plastic pollution that is already in the river, individuals still need to be more mindful about getting rid of their plastic garbage.
“AI technology cleaning the Thames does address the pressing issue of plastic pollution, but we also need to think beyond it,” stated Mathew. “We need to consider strategies to prevent plastic from ever entering the river in the first place.”
Nussenbaum claimed that even with the serious problem of plastic pollution, the installation of WaterShark has motivated her to make more environmentally friendly decisions.
“It’s fantastic to see how we can use technology to improve the environment,” Nussenbaum remarked. “I hope others will be motivated to cut back on their use of plastic as well as myself.”
We need to consider strategies for preventing plastic from ever entering the river in the first place.
Advisor of the Sustainability Council, Mariam Mathew
In a similar vein, Njenga expressed his appreciation for environmental protection initiatives and his belief that technology will enable us to create a more sustainable city.
Njenga said, “It’s really nice to see these new innovations, especially this robot.” “It demonstrates how technology can help create a more ecologically friendly and sustainable way of living.”
All things considered, Nussenbaum claimed that WaterShark is an illustration of how technology can be applied to solve environmental issues.
Nussenbaum stated, “It is encouraging to see people coming up with new ways to protect our natural environment.” “Hopefully, WaterShark technology will enable us to have a healthier, cleaner city.”
