Keyport calls attention to circular economy: The christening of the WasteShark in Limburg!

Wednesday, July 3, there was a first in our Keyport region. For the first time, the so-called 'WasteShark' was launched in the Blauwe Meertje in Limburg.

The WasteShark is an innovative mini-water robot that floats on the water and can navigate autonomously. It scours the surface of the water for plastic, trash, pollution and other things that do not belong in the water. The WasteShark collects it in its "open mouth" and brings it to the shore. In addition, the WasteShark collects data on water quality. For example, it can monitor whether outdoor water is suitable for swimming.'

The idea for the WasteShark originated in South Africa, where designer Hardiman is from. 'I saw two people fishing trash out of the water with a fishing net. I thought: surely there must be another and, above all, better way to do that? He eventually set up RanMarine: a company dedicated to protecting water and aquatic ecosystems. With the goal of enabling individuals and organizations worldwide to restore the natural state of aquatic environments. The company's mission revolves around developing advanced technologies specifically designed to remove pollution, biowaste and debris from waterways. And the Wasteshark is a great example of this.

"There is no future without a circular economy. Keyport supports companies in finding circular solutions. We will have to do the economy in a circular way in the future. We will have to find a way to keep the economy good without using too many raw materials and keep reusing them." - Gé MoonenAmbassador Keyport

On July 3, Declan Williams of Ranmarine, Wendy van Essen of Fuenix, Danielle Twardy, Zuyd Hogeschool, Martijn van den Heuvel, alderman of the Municipality of Weert, Ge Moonen of Keyport, Jeroen Heijdeman, Company Manager Blauwe Meertje and Alex Lockhorst, 4th year European Studies student Zuyd Hogeschool, trainee at Ranmarine together released the Wasteshark on Limburg waters. A special moment for a special device.

Danielle Twardy, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences:

"As long as there is plastic, together we can help create a circular economy for it. Education, government and entrepreneurs together can call attention to it and most importantly get it moving. So today we literally stood together with bare feet in the water to symbolically put the importance of this movement on the map in the region by launching the Wasteshark for the first time in Limburg. Nice to see what possibilities there are with this technology and data analysis. Super that a student from Zuyd Hogeschool did an internship at Ranmarine!"

Alex Lockhorst, 4th year European Studies Zuyd Hogeschool student, Ranmarine intern:

"Cool for students to know that this is happening. Drones that help to clean water"

With this collaboration between Keyport, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Fuenix Ecogy, RanMarine Technology, municipality of Weert and the Blauwe Meertje, attention was drawn to a circular economy, which, according to the parties involved, we can get moving together. Together we are the solution to create a circular economy. And the WasteShark is part of that.