Tampa’s “Little Skimmer” has collected 20 tons of trash since it launched last year.
TAMPA, FL (TodayNews) – Tampa’s Little Skimmer garbage truck is celebrating one year on the water in a big way this week!
The city of Tampa announced Wednesday that the boat has cleared 20.1 tons of debris from the Hillsborough River, the Davis Islands and the bay since the launch of the Little Skimmer last year.
The boat, which operates eight hours a day, four days a week, picks up trash from the water onto a conveyor belt, which is then pulled into a storage bin where the trash can later be properly disposed of.
Bucs’ Shaquille Barrett pays tribute to late daughter with cute tattoo after wife announces pregnancy
Since the “Little Skimmer” was on the water for a total of 841 hours, the city announced that it had collected 40,216 pounds (20.1 tons) of garbage and generated 9,645 kWh of electricity from the garbage collected.
Launched as part of the Keep It Clean initiative, Tampa also received an Urban Excellence Award last February in the public sector category.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, a major source of marine litter is single-use or disposable plastic items, including container lids and caps, beverage bottles, plastic bags, food wrappers, cups, plates, cutlery and drinking straws.
