Cairo’s rapid urbanization and limited municipal resources have resulted in an unreliable waste management system. Accumulated trash is often burned in public streets, creating serious environmental and health risks. At the same time, the Zabaleen—Cairo’s informal waste collectors—lost their primary source of income when waste collection was outsourced to international firms, disrupting a long-standing, community-based system and reducing economic inclusion. 

How might we design a scalable, civic tech enabled service that addresses Cairo’s unreliable waste collection system while empowering the Zabaleen with sustainable income, improving communication with residents, and reducing environmental and public health risks?

Designed a co-op based technology-enabled, on-demand waste collection service that supports and empowers the Zabaleen rather than replacing them. The solution centers on a mobile application that enables residents to request waste pickup while providing Zabaleen collectors with improved coordination, scheduling, and access to income opportunities. Grounded in service design and local context, the intervention integrates with existing informal systems to improve communication, knowledge transfer, and operational efficiency.