An AKTU student developed a digital waste management platform to streamline scrap collection, highlighting how campus innovation is addressing everyday urban challenges.
Sometimes even a single observation can spark a great startup idea. This stands true in the case of a first year engineering student, studying at the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) named Ankush Tiwari, who established ‘JustBin.’ It’s a unique startup and a waste development platform that streamlines scrap collection. What began as a routine visit to a relative’s apartment evolved into a promising startupidea.
The idea emerged after Tiwari noticed unused scrap accumulating in storage rooms at high-rise residential societies. He noticed that several residents struggled to dispose of recyclable waste because local scrap collectors rarely visited apartment complexes, and their announcements often went unheard by people living on higher floors. This evident gap Tiwari noticed in the waste collection process eventually led him to explore a tech-driven solution.
Leveraging the power of tech for improving waste management.
By making scrap disposal more accessible, JustBin seeks to encourage recycling while reducing the amount of reusable material left unused in homes and residential societies. The startup is currently in its early stages, with plans for formal company registration.
Tiwari has credited AKTU’s incubation and innovation ecosystem for helping transform the concept from an observation into a worthwhile business idea. The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to promote sustainable waste management and support India’s growing circular economy.
Increasing focus on entrepreneurship by the university.
The project also showcases AKTU’s increasing focus on entrepreneurship alongside academic learning. Tiwari is among the first students to have received academic credits under the university’s startup credit programme, which rewards students for developing and operating innovative ventures while pursuing their degrees. Under the initiative, eligible students can earn up to 15 academic credits through entrepreneurial activities instead of relying solely on traditional examinations.
Alongside JustBin, other student-led ventures at the university include technology-driven products addressing healthcare and wearable wellness, demonstrating the institution’s emphasis on solving real-world problems through innovation.
From improving urban waste management to creating products with everyday utility, such ventures demonstrate how innovation is becoming an integral part of engineering education.
