SEKEM Organic Waste Recycling

The SEKEM Organic Waste Recycling initiative is part of SEKEM’s broader agricultural rehabilitation efforts in Egypt, operating across 1,628 feddan (684 hectares) of reclaimed desert land.¹ Established in 1977 and headquartered at 3 Belbes Desert Road, Cairo, SEKEM integrates biodynamic farming with modern recycling to form a closed-loop system.² The project aligns with Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2030, focusing on circular economy principles and reducing reliance on landfills.^{3 4}
It seeks to convert organic waste into compost and biogas, support 130 contracted farmers and over 400 small-holding farmers and promote sustainable agriculture by providing organic fertilizer and renewable solutions.⁵

SEKEM’s waste recycling initiative is built around waste recovery and agricultural integration across its farms in El Wahat El Bahareya (500 feddan), Minya (500 feddan), Adleya (150 feddan), and Sinai (1,000 feddan).⁶
Key components include:^{7 8 9}

• Composting facilities producing organic fertilizer for biodynamic crops (wheat, quinoa, medicinal plants).
• Biogas plants generating renewable energy to support operations and 90 employees.
• Livestock integration, with 130 dairy cows and 17,500 laying hens, providing inputs for compost production.
• Carbon credit initiatives, earning SEKEM international recognition for recycling green waste.
• Use of solar dryers and wastewater treatment systems, in compliance with ISO 14001 environmental standards.

The initiative is managed by SEKEM’s General Compliance Manager, in collaboration with the Egyptian government institutions, private sector partners, notably Eni, and international organizations.^{10 11}
A notable milestone includes a 2021 partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Eni, expanding renewable energy infrastructure.¹²
Progress achieved so far includes:

• By 2014, over 1,600 feddan (672 hectares) of desert land reclaimed with sustainable infrastructure.¹³
• Expansion of waste collection networks across SEKEM farms.^{14 15}
• Establishment of training programs for farmers in biodynamic practices and composting.¹⁶

The project is ongoing, with SEKEM now distributing compost to its network of farmers and aiming to make organic agriculture as Egypt’s industry standard by 2030.¹⁷