Amid Egypt’s rapid urbanization and increasing strain on resources, Egyptian startup Bekia has introduced a digital solution offering a community-focused, reward-based model for sustainable waste management. Founded in 2017 by Alaa Afifi, Bekia has developed a platform allowing individuals and businesses to exchange recyclable waste for goods and services.
Since its inception, the Cairo-based company has secured $580,000 in funding through four investment rounds to support its growth. Afifi emphasized that the platform targets women in Egypt, who traditionally manage household waste, and aims to empower them in addressing environmental issues caused by poor waste management.
Bekia’s platform allows users to request waste pickups—including plastics, paper, metals, used oil, and electronics—through its mobile app (available on iOS and Android) or website. In return, users earn credits that can be redeemed for shopping vouchers, groceries, mobile airtime, or even school fees. The platform uses geolocation to integrate requests into an optimized logistics system managed by Bekia.
By offering tangible rewards for recycling, Bekia is tackling two significant challenges: reducing poorly managed urban waste and promoting eco-friendly habits. The company focuses on underserved neighborhoods with limited public waste collection services, working to establish a comprehensive recycling network.
With over 75,000 users and hundreds of tons of waste collected, Bekia is positioning itself as a key player in Egypt’s green tech sector. The company is expanding through partnerships with schools, government agencies, and businesses to further its impact.
