Recovery facilities – from MRFs and sorting lines to waste banks and community-based aggregation points – form a critical link in recycling and circular economy systems. Yet many operate below potential due to limited sorting capacity, high contamination, weak market connections and poor data visibility. Upgrading these facilities strengthens recycling value chains, improves occupational conditions and supports compliance with SDG 11.6.1, which requires cities to report controlled vs. uncontrolled waste flows. Facilities that can reliably measure inbound and outbound materials are better positioned to demonstrate recovery performance, attract buyers and support municipal reporting.

This challenge invites solutions that enhance the technical, operational, financial, and data dimensions of recovery systems, helping cities unlock higher recycling rates and better reporting.

The Challenge

• Propose a solution: What upgrades or interventions could significantly improve the performance, safety, traceability or output quality of recovery facilities in your city, region, or sector? Consider technical, operational, financial, regulatory, behavioural, and market-driven levers.
• Share a proven solution: Have you worked on or observed an initiative that successfully upgraded a MRF, waste bank, cooperative, junk shop, or community-based recovery enterprise? What made it successful? How were bottlenecks addressed? What lessons can others adapt?

Key Criteria

When writing your response, consider some of the following dimensions that influence performance:

• Infrastructure and technology: How did the facility upgrade its sorting capability, handling capacity, contamination control, safety equipment, or material recovery efficiency?
• Informal working arrangements: Were informal workers or waste pickers integrated into operations?
• Market and downstream linkages: Were new buyers, offtake agreements, or standards leveraged to ensure demand for recovered materials?
• Feedstock and contamination control: Did upstream improvements (household separation, commercial collection, communication) influence material quality or throughput? How were contamination thresholds managed?

Challenge Timeline

Start Date: 19 January 2026
Submission Deadline: 20 February 2026
Discussion Period: Ongoing

Recognition and Next Steps

Top contributors will be featured in the forum and community updates, and successful solutions may be highlighted as case studies or best practices on the WFD platform.

Get Started

Use this thread to post ideas, share examples, ask questions, and collaborate. Together, let’s strengthen recovery systems and help cities achieve SDG 11.6.1 through successful, practical and scalable upgrades.