SEGi made an impactful mark at the 14th International Invention, Innovation and Design Competition 2025 (INDES 2025), held on 26 June at UiTM Seri Iskandar, Perak. Represented by four Diploma in IT students—Lam Yong Qin, Lee Kai Min, Calvin Ng, and Cheong Kai Qi—the team proudly earned a Silver Medal under the “Sustainability of Life” category with their innovative project Trash Track, a smart waste management system driven by emerging technologies.
Combining Internet of Things (IoT) and image processing, Trash Track offers a working prototype that detects, categorises, and automatically sorts waste materials into designated bins. With real-time sensors and machine learning capabilities, the system accurately identifies plastics, organics, and paper—minimising human error, reducing contamination in recycling streams, and improving the overall efficiency of waste segregation. The project also collects live data for sustainability reporting and opens doors to incentive-based recycling initiatives through measurable behavioural tracking.
This forward-thinking solution addresses real-world environmental challenges. Globally, humans generate over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste each year, with at least 33% not managed in an environmentally safe manner. Innovations like Trash Track are essential in supporting smarter, more sustainable cities—redefining how communities handle waste at the source.
Participation in INDES 2025 allowed SEGi students to bring theory into practice while strengthening their technical, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills. For these budding technologists, the competition served as a platform to contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s sustainability agenda and gain recognition for their early-stage innovation.
Their Silver Medal achievement reflects more than just technical success—it represents SEGi College Penang’s commitment to nurturing students who are not only industry-ready but also socially conscious and solution-driven. These young innovators exemplify what’s possible when academic learning is paired with real-world purpose and environmental responsibility.
This event is organised in support of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
