Witsies with the edge
HIMKAAR SINGH 2022 Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list
Video: YouTube iCompost The Intelligent Composter
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Founder and CEO of The Compost Kitchen Himkaar Singh (BSc Eng 2014, GDE 2017) made it on to the coveted Forbes Africa 30 under 30 class list of 2022. He was acknowledged for his commitment to enhancing water security through his innovative way of improving soil quality through composting. The Compost Kitchen initially started as a collection and recycling business that converted recycled food waste into vermicompost, using thousands of earthworms. Customers were given the vermicompost back each month, which they could use in their vegetable garden to grow food again. The business has matured into using a technological innovation called iCompost which is a low-noise machine with a two-litre capacity that turns all types of food waste – including coffee grounds, tea
bags and eggshells – into a dry, natural and nutrient-rich modified soil. The 30-year-old Wits-trained civil engineer and entrepreneur shared that his social awareness had been germinating over several years. The company was recognised as one of the 300 World Best Practices on Sustainability and Innovation by the United Nations in February 2021 as well as having been selected as part of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship in South Africa’s Food Waste Innovation Challenge. Wits memory: “The only lecturer I have kept in contact with since graduating is Dr Precious Biyela. I remember in the first lecture I had with her, she encouraged questions and engagement, and remembered my name. I always sat in the front and asked a lot of questions – which she answered logically and patiently.”
