The “RecyConnect” team composed of Mr. Ronnel Pagurayan, faculty member of the Department of Environmental Science, Mr. John Kenneth Calivoso, and Ms. Wendy Villanueva, senior students of the BS Environmental Science program, won 2nd place in the “Innovate for Impact: Solutions to Combat Plastic Pollution in Rivers and Canals” sponsored by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on February 15.

The competition aimed to develop innovative ideas and practical solutions to address the critical issue of plastic pollution, aligning with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) on responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and life below water (SDG 14). These solutions involve technological interventions, policy innovations, or a combination. 

With 20 entries from Bangladesh, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand for preliminary evaluation, the RecyConnect team advanced to the finals and presented their proposals which were followed by a question and answer session.

Dr. Lakeesha Ransom, enterprise engagement director of the AIT entrepreneurship center; Mr. Kevin Marks, chief executive officer of Landmarks Vietnam; Mr. Alexander Radach, founder of Sai Yok Springs; and Dr. Kavinda Gunasekara, chief operating officer of AIT global water and sanitation center served as evaluation committee.

According to Mr. Pagurayan, RecyConnect is an online buying-and-selling application for used plastic bottles that aims to reduce the number of disposals in rivers. “It is an innovation that taps into the power of web and mobile digital platforms,” he said.
Mr. Calivoso also expressed his gratitude to the MMSU Bannuar Technology Business Incubation Program for inspiring him and Ms. Villanueva to create an “idea of transforming wastes to resources.”

The RecyConnect team will receive $500 as a monetary incentive. Two other entries from MMSU CAFSD also qualified for the finals.