EcoLoop, a student team from Thapathali Campus, Institute of Engineering (IoE), emerged victorious at ‘BIN THERE, HACKED THAT!’, a waste hackathon.

Organised by Ncell Foundation in collaboration with Khaalisisi and Budhanilkantha Municipality, the event was held on the occasion of World Environment Day 2025.

Drawing over 400 applicants, the hackathon narrowed the pool to 13 finalists, who gathered for an intensive day of mentoring, pitching, and prototyping to address Nepal’s mounting waste management challenges.

Themed around circular innovation and sustainability, the competition pushed teams to develop real-world, tech-driven solutions.

Team EcoLoop – composed of Nitesh Kumar Sah, Dharmendra Singh Chaudhary, Ramesh Kathayat, and Bipin Kumar Marasin – clinched the first prize for their innovative platform under the theme Digitize Trash. Their solution enables households to sort and track waste, earning rewards through a gamified mobile system.

First runner-up went to Team Fullstackzerowaste from King’s College, featuring Anshu Regmi, Rojan Shrestha, and Kabish Pokhrel, who focused on transitioning landfills into circular ecosystems.

Meanwhile, Team Source Code from Kathmandu University secured the second runner-up spot with an AI-powered platform to support municipalities in tracking carbon emissions and improving waste logistics, under the Waste Without Smoke theme.

“This is a kind of grassroots innovation Nepal needs,” said Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, at the event. “These young innovators are lighting the path forward.”

Over 40 percent of finalist teams led or co-led by women, aligning with the event’s Women in Waste Entrepreneurship theme. From smart composting to recycling marketplaces, the solutions offered a glimpse into Nepal’s tech-enabled, sustainable future.

Bishakha Lakshmi Khadka, director of Ncell Foundation and Special Projects, stated, “This hackathon was more than an event—it was a platform for civic innovation, where ideas met action.”

Aayushi KC, founder of Khaalisisi Management, added, “Our goal was not only to raise awareness but to empower students and especially women innovators to drive actionable change.”

The top three teams will now receive mentorship and incubation support from the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Young Entrepreneurs Forum (CNI YEF) and will be fast-tracked for pilot projects in partnership with municipalities and private stakeholders.

The event was co-organised by Golyan Group and supported by an extensive network including Plast Nepal Foundation, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal, Nabil Bank, Cloud Factory, Fusemachines, and several academic institutions.