Hackathon Paves Way for Sustainable Urban Waste Solutions

News Desk

Islamabad: In a pioneering initiative to tackle the pressing issue of waste management in Pakistan’s urban areas, a two-day hackathon was organized as part of the Green Urban Development (GUD) program. The aim was to co-create solutions for youth-led waste recycling in the country’s urban centers.

Jointly initiated by the Institute of Urbanism and the School of Leadership Foundation, with support from the US Embassy in Islamabad, the hackathon brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including academia, youth, researchers, media, government officials, and representatives from the private sector.

The primary objective was to find innovative solutions for implementing at-source waste segregation at the household level in cities, while integrating informal waste management stakeholders in a socially and economically equitable manner.
During the event, various critical issues were highlighted, underscoring the urgency of addressing the waste management crisis in Pakistani cities. For instance, Islamabad alone generates approximately 1575 tonnes of municipal waste daily, with a low recycling rate.

Plastic waste is a significant component, estimated to constitute 14.26 percent of the total waste. Additionally, challenges such as outdated waste-related data, the absence of comprehensive national-level policies, and fragmented efforts from informal and private sectors were identified as major obstacles.
Samia Afridi, Senior Programme Manager at the School of Leadership Foundation, emphasized the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing complex societal issues.

Ayesha Majid, Senior Programme Coordinator at the Institute of Urbanism, stressed the importance of formalizing segregation at the source and recycling at the community level, along with culturally-rooted messaging and capacity building.
Waleed Hameed of Five Star (PVT) Ltd. highlighted the need to provide platforms for youth to engage with existing recycling businesses and advocated for seed funding and small grants to encourage innovative waste management approaches.
Shayan Yar acknowledged the Institute of Urbanism’s efforts in promoting waste-based solutions and stressed the importance of sustained collaborative efforts to tackle local waste management challenges.
Dr Abida Sharif, Assistant Professor at Fatima Jinnah University, emphasized the significance of integrating waste-wise practices into early education curricula and called on the government to support waste-related initiatives and businesses.
The hackathon served as a catalyst for fostering collaboration and innovation in addressing Pakistan’s waste management challenges, highlighting the critical role of youth-led initiatives and underlining the urgent need for comprehensive policies and coordinated efforts across sectors.