Student-led recycling innovation featured on the international stage
A student-led innovation that aims to make recycling fun and rewarding received global exposure at the 2025 Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Techathon+.
Bingage uses gamified smart bins to encourage and reward recycling. Users scan a QR code through the Bingage app, deposit eligible waste into a Bingage smart bin, and earn points that can be redeemed for rewards. The waste is then repurposed into recycled products to create a visible, circular outcome from everyday actions.
Bingage is the brain child of University of Newcastle undergraduate students Ryan Muir, Luca Surman and Edward (Ned) Collins. They came up with the concept during their Acceleration for Student Entrepreneurs (INOV3004) course, which was developed by the Newcastle Business School and the University's Integrated Innovation Network (I2N).
The team previewed their idea at the University's Net Zero Grand Challenge in 2024, refined it, and then took out the People's Choice Award at the 2025 Circular Economy Grand Challenge. An invitation from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Techathon+ soon followed.
“The fact that Bingage has been recognised internationally reinforces both the relevance of the problem we’re addressing and the potential impact of our approach," said Bingage co-founder Ryan Muir.
As Asia's largest university-based startup competition, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Techathon+ has been running for more than a decade. In 2024, it evolved into an international competition with hundreds of teams competing prizes, recognition, and the chance to engage with international investors.
"Pitching to international investors has been an incredible opportunity. It's helping us further develop our idea within one of Asia’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems," Muir added.
Even though the team didn't take home the Techathon's major prize, Bingage was one of three teams selected to promote their innovation to international media outlets, including Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK.
The Bingage team have been invited to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park’s Ideation program, where they will receive $20,000 and incubation mentorship to progress their startup.
Co-founders Ryan Muir and Ned Collins also recently completed the University's international startup placement course (BUSN3500). As part of the Newcastle Business School and I2N-developed course, Muir and Collins were one 32 University students to complete career-ready placements at international startups based at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, thanks to $572,000 in funding from the New Columbo Plan Mobility Program.
Contact
- Integrated Innovation Network (I2N)
- Email: i2n@newcastle.edu.au
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