Recife to Pilot Circular Economy Recycling Model

Recife, Brazil will partner with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Clean Rivers, and global companies to create a new model for collecting and recycling packaging. Chosen as a pilot city, Recife aims to develop a system that can be replicated nationwide, addressing Brazil’s waste management challenges and transitioning toward a circular economy. The initiative will focus on improving efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability in urban solid waste management, expanding recycling rates and reducing plastic pollution.

Over the next six months, stakeholders will create a detailed action plan, with an anticipated investment of around R$ 300 million (approximately $58 million USD) starting in 2027. The project builds on the findings of a report identifying infrastructure gaps as a key barrier to circularity in Brazil.

The partnership also seeks to formalize the role of Brazil’s nearly one million waste pickers, who currently recover up to 90% of the country’s recyclable materials. By 2040, the goal is to implement scalable solutions and inform national policies on solid waste management.