Zero Waste Hackathon

Author: gturan | Date: April 2, 2026

At Ondokuz Mayıs University, the “Zero Waste Hackathon” held within the scope of March 30 International Zero Waste Day stood out with the strong interest of students and their innovative work. Organized to raise environmental awareness and promote the idea of sustainable living, the event brought together students from different disciplines on a common platform.

The program, which started in the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Engineering, was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten, Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer, and Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, Secretary General Prof. Dr. Alper Burak Pancar, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Topcu, Director of ÇEVSAM and Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering Prof. Dr. Nurdan Gamze Turan, faculty members of the department, and many students.

In the competition, organized under the theme “From Waste to Art,” students developed both aesthetic and functional products using various waste materials. While producing projects individually and in teams, participants had the opportunity to improve their skills in creativity, problem-solving, and resource efficiency. The resulting works clearly demonstrated that waste can be transformed into a valuable resource through the right approach.

At the end of the competition, the awards were presented to the winning students by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın. The organization was regarded as an important step toward contributing to sustainable future goals while also revealing young people’s capacity to develop solutions to environmental problems.

As part of the program, waste management practices carried out on campus were also introduced. The deposit return system at the Life Center and the compost unit at the Faculty of Science were demonstrated to students on site. Through these applications, the processes of recycling packaging waste and re-evaluating organic waste were presented in a practical way.

The event and the simultaneous presentations further strengthened the university’s vision of a sustainable campus while contributing to the development of environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility among students.