Newport Beach unveils California’s first trash-collecting water wheel
A new multi-million dollar trash-collecting water wheel was unveiled in Newport Beach Friday, the first-of-its-kind in the state, to collect floating trash before it contaminates the local harbors and beaches. City leaders said every year, hundreds of tons of floating trash and debris enter Newport Bay through San Diego Creek. The garbage eventually makes its way to the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Newport Harbor and beaches. The $5.5 million Newport Bay Trash Interceptor will supplement other cleaning efforts including trash booms, catch basin collection systems and floating skimmers, city officials said.