Amid Egypt's rapid urbanization and increasing strain on resources, Bekia's digital solution delivers a community-focused, reward-based model for sustainable waste management.

Egyptian startup Bekia has developed an innovative digital platform that lets individuals and businesses exchange recyclable waste for goods and services. Founded in 2017 by Alaa Afifi, the Cairo-based company has secured $580,000 in funding across four investment rounds to fuel its expansion.  

"Our platform primarily targets women in Egypt, since they typically manage household waste," Afifi said. "By empowering women, we aim to leverage their role in waste disposal to combat environmental issues caused by poor waste management."  

Users can request waste pickup—including plastics, paper, metals, used oil, and electronics—via Bekia’s mobile app (available on iOS and Android with over 50,000 downloads on the Play Store) or website. In return, they earn credits redeemable for shopping vouchers, groceries, mobile airtime, or even school fees. The platform uses geolocation to integrate requests into an optimized logistics system operated by Bekia.  

The startup tackles two major challenges: reducing poorly managed urban waste and incentivizing eco-friendly habits through tangible rewards. It focuses on underserved neighborhoods with limited public waste collection services, aiming to build a comprehensive recycling network.  

With more than 75,000 users and hundreds of tons of waste collected, Bekia is emerging as a key green tech player in Egypt. The company is now expanding through partnerships with schools, government agencies, and businesses.

 By Adoni Conrad Quenum,

Editing by Feriol Bewa