CPW helps launch litter-eating ‘shark’ to clean up Leeds’s waterways

A new aquatic robot called a WasteShark, inspired by a whale shark’s open-mouthed feeding technique, has been launched this week using cutting-edge technology to collect litter on the waterways in Leeds City Centre.

CPW has teamed up with other local businesses to invest in the drone that can scoop up to 500kg waste from the surface of the water per day as it swims along. While the WasteShark is improving our environment, it also emits no greenhouse emissions, produces no noise pollution, and poses no threat to wildlife. It is equipped with GPS, LIDAR collision avoidance technology, a camera and electric motors and is the first use of this technology to be approved by the Canal Rivers Trust on its UK waterways.

The WasteShark will be operated by remote control by our friends at Canal Connections, a social enterprise that aims to use local waterways for social regeneration and to engage the local community to improve natural heritage. It can also work autonomously on a set route, like a robot vacuum. Canal Connections will sort the waste collected by the WasteShark which will be recycled or appropriately disposed of.

Gareth Moad, Director in our Leeds office, said: “As a company, we are deeply committed to improving the world we live in. Whether that’s in our sustainable design practices or exciting projects like this. Plastic pollution in our rivers is a huge issue – it’s damaging for wildlife, for the natural environment, and ultimately for us as microplastics end up in our water supply. So it’s essential we play our part in tackling this issue by cleaning up our local waterways.”

The idea was generated by the Leeds Waterfront Group, a sub-group of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Property and Economic Forum.

The group’s chair, Paul Ellison said: “We are very pleased to have put this innovative project together with support from local businesses as well as Leeds City Council and Leeds Civic Trust. We’re confident that it will generate real benefits to the city and also draw attention to the need to keep our waterways clean and attractive for all to enjoy.”

Find out more about what we’re doing for the environment.