These finalists of the Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Awards want to create solutions for a circular economy
[SINGAPORE] From sustainable fabrics to e-waste recycling, these five companies are creating new or improved solutions to longstanding sustainability challenges.
The EESA is part of the wider Emerging Enterprise Awards. Established in 2008, the awards recognise startups and young businesses across Singapore and Asia, providing resources to boost their growth.
Smart sorting for smooth recycling
Cornerstone Smart Recycling’s bins can segregate waste and track fill data
Lawson Lau, founder and executive director of Cornerstone Smart Recycling
Through innovative sensor technologies and data-driven operations, Cornerstone Smart Recycling streamlines waste collection and recycling to empower individuals and businesses in Hong Kong and overseas to reduce their environmental footprint.
We are expanding our presence across new markets in Asia, targeting urban centres with urgent waste management challenges. We also offer smart bin solutions for suburban areas and village houses.
Our long-term vision is to establish Cornerstone Smart Recycling as a global leader in sustainable waste management by continuously advancing technology, fostering community collaboration and driving measurable environmental impact worldwide.
ECO Expo Asia 20253-A02 Environmental Protection Department – the Government of the HKSAR
In last week ECO Expo Asia 2025, our latest product SMARTCLASSIFY CP showcased at two booths drew considerable attention from visitors.
Connecting and Showcasing Innovation
To reconnect with existing clients, explore new markets, and showcase our latest products, aligned with our business focus, while gaining insights into the latest market trends.
Cornerstone team guided the VIP Tour by presenting the company’s core operations, highlighting our smart recycling devices, the variety of recyclable materials we collect, and our backend management system. The team also demonstrated the latest deployment in the market – SmartClassify CP the Smart Compacting Recycling Bin, walking through its detailed recycling process.
Founder and Executive Director of Cornerstone Smart Recycling Ltd – Green-tech Sharing Session
Green-tech Sharing Session: Make Recycle Cycle with Smart Devices, System and Platform
During his speaking slot , o u r founder Lawson Lau emphasized how our IoT-enabled infrastructure connects people with downstream recyclers. By combining smart recycling hardware and green technology, we boost public engagement and promote sustainable living. Our RVM machines, featuring object recognition for automatic sorting and an anti-fault design, make recycling easier, more accurate, and efficient. Since 2020, our 100% Hong Kongdesigned smart bins have been linked to a real-time COP data monitoring platform, offering usage analytics, recycling insights, and an intuitive dashboard for data-driven management. Additionally, our custom reward-based app integrations help increase recycling rates and reduce waste, advancing the city’s path toward a greener, smarter future.
Founder and Executive Director of Cornerstone Smart Recycling Ltd. (left) received the UNSDG Achievement Award Hong Kong 2025-Recognised Project Award at the award ceremony.
Cornerstone Smart Recycling Limited has been awarded the Recognised Project (SME) from “UNSDG Achievement Award Hong Kong 2025” for its “Provision of Services for Food Waste Smart Bin in Service Area.” This award, presented by the Green Council, recognizes the company’s outstanding performance in recycling initiatives and its commitment to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
Cornerstone Smart Recycling Limited is a green-tech company with a business focus on multiple-stream recycling solutions in Hong Kong. Having the public gradually engaged to adopt an eco-conscious lifestyle with technology as a tool is essential to improving the quality of life. Together with our role as a solution provider throughout the downstream recycling chain, it also gives the best practice for recyclers to re-process and upcycle sorted recyclables, alongside the government initiatives related to waste segregation and recycling, the RVM Pilot Scheme Collecting Beverage Cartons, and the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Plastic Beverage Containers and Beverage Cartons in the coming year. We believe proper separation at the source of sorted recyclables could save and turn ‘Recyclables into Resources’ for downstream recyclers, avoiding them from being sent to landfills and polluting the ocean.
UNSDG Achievement Award Hong Kong 2025-Recognised Project Award
About Cornerstone Smart Recycling
Cornerstone Smart Recycling was established in Hong Kong in 2018, a solution provider that offers smart recycling infrastructure and system solutions for corporates, government, and the community. The flagship products we developed, both the modular self-service IoT-enabled smart recycling bins (“SmartClassify”) series and reverse vending machines (“RenatureChest”) in the community, are designed for support waste segregation at public places and being placed in various premises, such as shopping malls, commercial buildings, academy, public housing estates and private residential buildings, construction sites, and Green@Community recycling stations.
With the extensive support and project partnerships with our government, developers, property management, and private organisations, our multiple-stream recycling solutions are widely spread across 18 districts in Hong Kong, covering 1,000+ smart bins that mainly collect food waste, single-use plastic drinking bottles, aluminium cans, tetra paks, glass bottles, metals, paper, and plastics.
In addition to recycling hardware, Cornerstone Smart Recycling offers a real‑time COP data platform. Through the backend management platform and customisable dashboard, users gain full visibility of recycling performance.
Our one‑stop recycling solution can also integrate with third‑party rewards platforms, enabling our partners to provide recycling incentives and rewards to their customers.
Cornerstone Smart Recycling SmartClassify smart bin isquare
Prominent commercial buildings attract a diverse array of visitors, including shoppers, office workers, and tourists. However, with increased foot traffic comes the challenge of waste management. The recent deployment of smart recycling bins #SmartClassify at #iSquare and #GreatEagleCentre, and SmartClassify #MINI at #KCC Kowloon Commerce Centre, Two Harbour Square and #SinoPlaza signifies a commitment to sustainability within commercial buildings.
Cornerstone Smart Recycling SmartClassify MINI smart bin SINO Plaza
Option Encouraging Green Practice 🔵🟡🟤🟤🟢
To support #smartcity development, the smart recycling bins are designed to facilitate #self-service recycling by clearly marking disposal options for different materials. By making it easier for individuals to dispose of waste responsibly, these bins encourage a green lifestyle within the #commercial setting. Linked with GREEN$ platform, building occupants are able to #sort recyclable materials according to the clear labelling and visual aids shown on each single compartment, together with sensors monitoring fill levels, transfer real-time information and usage data through IoT network for efficient recyclable collection, automatic recording of the weight of recyclables and GREEN$ points earned.
Green Building Design🌳
Nowadays more commercial buildings are designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials. The addition of smart bins complements these efforts by enhancing overall waste management. By promoting recycling and #green initiatives, buildings could enhance their market appeal and brand value.
Enhancing Urban Green Spaces 🏞️
By reducing litter with proper sorting, the smart recycling bins contribute to a cleaner urban environment. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the commercial areas but also illustrates the interconnectedness of people, urban buildings, and space.
RTHK CLIMATE WATCHER: Weather review and expectation / Earthquake risk and landslide management / Circular economy? Industrial circularity?
What specific reuse, recycling, and repurpose initiatives were mentioned during the radio live broadcast program #climatewatcher last weekend? 📻
During the airtime, our founder Lawson Lau share insights that included the use of #smartbins in the community, which are now easily accessible for public recycling. He also emphasized the importance of shifting from disposable to #reusable items, by encouraging the use of reusable products, we could minimize our reliance on single-use plastics and highlighting how this transition can significantly reduce waste ♻️
Lawson together addressed the critical issue of EV #batteryrecycling. As electric vehicles become more prevalent, effective recycling processes are essential to manage the lifecycle of batteries. This not only helps recover valuable materials but also reduces environmental impact 🚙
RTHK CLIMATE WATCHER: Weather review and expectation / Earthquake risk and landslide management / Circular economy? Industrial circularity?
To enhance the attractiveness of the GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme (GREEN$ ePIS) and to encourage the public to use the Environmental Protection Department (EPD)’s community recycling facilities to participate in recycling, the GREEN$ ePIS introduced a new electronic redemption option in February last year, allowing participants to convert their GREEN$ Points for a wider variety of electronic rewards. Recently, the programme has been further expanded to include the conversion of GREEN$ Points into e-points on the retail reward platform MoneyBack.
GREEN$ x MoneyBack Point Conversion boosts recycling appeal
Mr Cheng said, “The gift redemption of GREEN$ ePIS is keeping pace with the times and is gradually transitioning into a digital form. In addition to rewards such as MTR tickets and local eco-tours, members of the public can now convert GREEN$ Points to MoneyBack e-points with the GREEN$ mobile app anytime and anywhere, allowing them to redeem gifts freely at more than 500 supermarkets and retail stores in the territory. This new electronic redemption option has been well received by members of the public since its trial launch last December, and is expected to encourage greater public participation in recycling, further strengthening the green culture of waste reduction and recycling in Hong Kong.”
GREEN$ x MoneyBack Point Conversion boosts recycling appeal
The EPD first launched the Recycling Stations project in 2015, and currently there are 12 Recycling Stations across Hong Kong. Besides providing community recycling services, the Recycling Stations also serve to instil a green lifestyle within the community through public education and environmental activities. To support the MTR Tuen Mun South Extension project, GREEN@TUEN MUN was relocated from the original site on Tuen Yee Street to the new location on Lung Chak Road, where it commenced operation on March 19.
Cornerstone Smart Recycling SmartClassify MINI smart bin Go park sai sha
/Case Study/
Signature Park serves as a vital green space in the urban landscape, providing residents around and visitors with recreational opportunities and a connection to nature. However, like many urban parks, it faces challenges related to waste management and littering. The recent deployment of smart bins SmartClassify #MINI at #GOPARK Sai Sha marks a significant advancement in promoting sustainability within urban environments.
Real-time monitoring fill level
When comparing smart recycling bins to traditional ones, key differences highlight the advantages of the modern approach. Traditional bins often face overflow or underutilization due to a lack of #realtime monitoring. In contrast, smart bins are able to #track fill levels, feature LED indicators that visually display different fill levels, guiding users on when to use the bin, and allowing for optimized collection schedules.
Green and Active Living
Engaging in nature-based sports like cycling or running enhances both our physical well-being and appreciation for the environment. For developers and organizers sports events prioritizing sustainability boost participation and satisfaction. At Cornerstone, we proudly support these initiatives by driving innovation in waste management and empowering individuals to make sustainable choices. Our #smartbins MINI are designed to make recycling easy and #accessible, even for those in the midst of their sports activities.
Stop by and experience our smart recycling bins firsthand when you’re in the area. Even in the midst of your sports activities, every small action counts—disposing #recyclable into our smart bins might seem simple, but collectively, it leads to significant positive impacts over time, particularly in urban settings where space and resources are often limited.
Issued on April 08, 2025
To read more on our case study, click here to visit our Linkedin page.
Hang Seng Bank x HKFYG’s “Seek Our Ways” Ideation Programme “Leaders’ Dialogue”Hang Seng Bank x HKFYG’s “Seek Our Ways” Ideation Programme “Leaders’ Dialogue”
#SeekOurWays
Thanks to Hang Seng Bank, HKFYG, The HKFYG Leadership Institute for inviting our Executive Director Lawson Lau to take part in the Dialogues with Industry Leaders session last weekend at the #mills.
Hang Seng Bank x HKFYG’s “Seek Our Ways” Ideation Programme “Leaders’ Dialogue”
Echoing the SOW program focus on one of the key social themes “Environment and Sustainable Development”, together with other panelists on the stage, we provide insights to the secondary and tertiary students not limited to entrepreneurship, partnership, circular economy and green-tech development.
Young people shape their futures. Their boundless creativity and potential are believed to be the catalysts for social and environmental change in Hong Kong.
Hang Seng Bank x HKFYG’s “Seek Our Ways” Ideation Programme “Leaders’ Dialogue”
Recap from last Friday, Cornerstone had the privilege of participating as a sponsor at the Food Smart Partnership Programme! Having attended this impactful event for the fourth year, this year our booth showcased the latest development on the #ReusableContainer #ReturnStation, and with the enhancement, we engage with many passionate individuals committed to sustainability 🌱
Cornerstone Smart Recycling Reusable Tableware Return Station
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
✨Engaging Conversations – We connected with attendees eager to learn about reducing #foodwaste, promoting a #circular economy and #reusability.
✨Interactive Demonstrations – Visitors experienced our return station firsthand, seeing just how easy it is to make #lowcarbon choices.
Collection of food waste in Hong Kong has surged by 70 percent, reaching 300 tonnes daily, following the installation of 740 smart recycling bins by the Environmental Protection Department in public rental housing estates as of July.
The contractors responsible for these bins have equipped them with advanced features, including disinfection, deodorization and pest control systems, ensuring high hygiene standards.
The bins are also connected to a big-data platform for effective monitoring.
Lawson Lau Wai-yan, executive director of Cornerstone, said each smart recycling bin is linked to the big-data platform, which monitors food waste trends across different estates.
“This data can help analyze residents’ recycling habits and participation rates, aiding in the effective planning of food-waste initiatives,” he said.
To enhance the bins’ stability and longevity, the contractor plans to periodically upgrade the units by installing new antennas and replacing aging components.
A cleaner at Tak Long Estate in Kowloon City said many residents have taken to regular food waste recycling since the bins were introduced.
The estate currently has eight smart recycling bins, and the cleaner said the team is familiar with residents’ recycling patterns, ensuring that bins are seldom overfull.
“Residents understand the recycling rules well; they know that raw, cooked, leftover or spoiled food can be recycled, while items with excessive moisture, disposable tableware and lunch boxes should not be placed in the bins,” she said.
To maintain hygiene, cleaners regularly sanitize the edges of the bins with bleach and replenish hand sanitizer and deodorant.
The government’s food waste smart recycling bins come from various contractors with distinct designs.
Citizens are encouraged to recognize the bins by their fishbone pattern and the Environmental Protection Department’s logo.
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