Innovative Approaches to Litter Collection: An Interview with Vanderbilt University Engineering Students

The Cumberland River experiences a high concentration of litter after rainfall events. This litter eventually degrades into microplastics which can negatively impact wildlife and human health. Most of this litter flows into the Cumberland River through smaller streams. The Cumberland River Compact worked with Vanderbilt School of Engineering students to design a device that can be placed in smaller streams in Nashville to capture surface litter before it ever reaches the Cumberland. In this interview, we hear from the students about the creation of the device, lessons learned, and next steps for implementation.  Student Team: Andrew Albert, Mechanical Engineering Student Eric Shanahan, Mechanical Engineering Student Jim Kirk, Mechanical Engineering Student Mathew MacDonald, Mechanical Engineering Student Nicholas Spurlock, Biomedical Engineering Student Sam Rowland, Civil Engineering Student Serena Hostetter, Mechanical Engineering Student Support the Cumberland River Compact's River Talks program: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/get-involved/donate/ SHOW NOTES: See photos from the project in this slideshow. Get involved in the Compact's Adopt-a-Stream program. Contact Ross Miller for more information: Ross.Miller@cumberlandrivercompact.org --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

2356 232

Suggested Podcasts

Blake Oliver & David Leary

Mike Ritland

Amy Myers, Becca Sudbeck, Hilary Woltemath, Tyler Wisecup

Michael Bungay Stanier

Jamie Orque