TRASH INTERCEPTOR 

        In 2019, Yamaha Motors created the Rightwaters Initiative to protect marine environments. Using an intercepting device, trash collection occurs in storm drains before it enters larger bodies of water. This stops pollution early in the cycle. Yamaha discovered that the first machine was too solid and heavy, making it difficult to move around. Similarly, the objective of this project is to create a trash interceptor to prevent waste from entering these large bodies of water. Collecting debris in storm drains will stop trash from reaching both oceans and rivers. 

           The team designed a new machine that is both cheaper and more readily available. Easy setup, sustainability, and being scalable are factors this new design addresses. The interceptor consists of a rotating basket wheel that will pick up trash and move it to a single collection site. A conveyor belt will move the trash from the collection site to a dumpster. For easy setup, the device will arrive on site in a few, simply assembled pieces. Once put together, the collector will rarely need human contact. The dumpster will be emptied according to a weekly pick-up schedule per city regulations. The collector will contain both a solar panel set and battery storage, so it will always have power. Solar panels will work during ideal weather, and the battery will provide power at all other times. By using renewable energy, the team further protects the environment. This helps to limit human input and reliance on outside power sources. The ability to scale the interceptor allows the device to operate in many environments. The expandable floating boom will allow the interceptor to scale to these different environments. To further improve performance, a water jet accelerator will pull the trash into the interceptor. The interceptor will collect trash before it spreads into larger water ways, allowing preservation of marine environments.