Inaugural Singapore waste-tech startup competition WASTE 20/20 finds its champion in Magorium

• Magorium and its proprietary plastic-into-asphalt premix tech bags US$18K funding
• Finalists include Indian startup Ishitva Robotic Systems and UK-based Topolytics 

The inaugural Singapore waste-tech startup competition WASTE 20/20 crowned a winner in the road construction space. Magorium, with its proprietary technology that converts plastic into high-quality asphalt premix used for road construction, managed to stand out among the competition to secure the top prize – a funding of US$18,603 (SG$25,000).

WASTE 20/20 which was hosted by StartupX in partnership with Enterprise Singapore and The Incubation Network, is designed to identify waste-tech startups that are tackling some of the biggest challenges in the collection, management and treatment of food and plastic waste in Singapore and beyond.

The competition hopes to encourage more waste management companies to adopt automation and digitisation, and nudge more innovative companies and startups to capture value from the waste sector.

The inaugural edition saw over 100 waste-tech startups applying from over 32 countries globally. Eight startups were shortlisted to pitch at the finals, with entries hailing from Singapore, India, Israel, UK and the United States.

“WASTE 20/20 has demonstrated the need for us to do more to accelerate innovation in the waste space. We aim to bridge the innovation gap for the traditional waste sector and drive a collaborative approach between startups and waste incumbents to tackle the global waste problem,” says StartupX chief executive officer Durwin Ho.

“This is only the beginning, and we will continue to invest efforts to support innovation in the waste space in years to come.”

The finalists include Indian startup Ishitva Robotic Systems, which placed second with their AI-powered automated waste-sorting robotic system that can effectively and efficiently separate plastic components from mixed waste. This, as a whole, helps make sorting more efficient at different stages of the waste value chain.

In third place is UK-based data and analytics startup Topolytics, which featured its proprietary analytics engine called WasteMap, capable of collecting and map live data on commercial, industrial and post-consumer waste from multiple sources to help corporates make better decisions around generated waste.

“WASTE 20/20 supports Singapore’s push in building a vibrant ecosystem to groom innovative startups. Particularly in the area of waste management, we see potential for more startups to introduce new and sustainable solutions that will enrich and uplift the capabilities of the sector, and create good jobs. Our partnership with StartupX will take us one step closer towards the goal of a zero-waste Singapore,” says Enterprise Singapore director Yeoh Choon Jin.The WASTE 20/20 initiative is also supported by the waste management industry, including 800 Super, Tiong Lam, ALBA-W&H and Sembcorp, who participated in the judging process and are looking to adopt relevant solutions through the competition.