Ncell Foundation, Khaalisisi and Budhanilkantha Municipality to host waste hackathon on world environment day
KATHMANDU: Ncell Foundation, Khaalisisi and Budhanilkantha Municipality are jointly set to host "Bin There, Hacked That" – the first-of-its-kind flagship waste hackathon – at Budhanilkantha Municipality Hall on June 5.
The milestone event will be held to mark World Environment Day 2025, bringing together techies, creatives, entrepreneurs and climate leaders to tackle Nepal’s growing waste crisis through technology and creativity.
Nepal’s brightest problem-solvers will come together to reimagine waste as an opportunity.
The hackathon represents a powerful public–private partnership between digital pioneers, Nepal’s formal waste management sector and progressive local government. It aims to catalyse scalable, tech-enabled solutions that address pressing challenges in waste management, recycling infrastructure, plastic pollution and the empowerment of informal waste workers, particularly women.
"Ncell Foundation is proud to support this landmark initiative that blends digital innovation with environmental stewardship. We believe this hackathon will unlock creative, tech-first solutions to one of Nepal’s most pressing civic challenges – waste," said Bishakha Lakshi Khadka, Director of Ncell Foundation and Special Projects.
Nepal generates over 3,000 tonnes of waste daily, yet formal recycling systems remain underdeveloped and women constitute less than 5% of the total waste workforce. "Bin There, Hacked That" seeks to change that narrative by fostering innovative, inclusive and actionable ideas to drive a circular economy centred on community, dignity and climate resilience.
"This is more than just a hackathon – it's a national call to rethink waste as a source of innovation, income and impact," said Amun Thapa, Founder and CEO of Khaalisisi. "With this platform, we are creating pathways for youth, women and technologists to co-create Nepal’s circular future."
Applications for the waste hackathon will remain open until May 28, 2025, inviting students, start-ups, engineers, designers, coders, informal sector champions and anyone passionate about building a cleaner and smarter Nepal. Selected groups will develop solutions in thematic areas including 'Landfill to Circularity', 'Waste Without Smoke', 'Women in Waste Entrepreneurship' and 'Digitise Trash'.
The hackathon is supported by Golyan Group, Plast Nepal Foundation, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal, CNIYEF, Nabil Bank, Grow By Idea, Cloudfactory, Fusemachines, Model Institute of Technology (MIT), Byapar Pathshala and Ace Institute of Management. To apply or learn more, visit the website.
