Micro Recycling Center (MRC)

What is an MRC?

A Waste Free ’23 Micro Recycling Center is a small, localized facility where local waste is turned into valuable products: animal feed, biochar, construction panels, roofs, chairs trash bins and more. It’s affordable, community-run, and built using accessible tools and materials, for being profitable, while also providing environmental and social benefits.

Benefits of MRCs

Environmental: MRCs help to reduce waste going to landfills, which can help to reduce pollution and conserve resources. They can also turn waste products into new products, reducing the need for virgin materials.
Economic: MRCs can create jobs in the community. They can also provide a source of income for people who collect and sell recyclable materials.
Social: MRCs can help to educate people about the importance of recycling and sustainable living. They can also create a sense of community pride.

How MRCs Work

MRCs typically collects all types of waste, most importantly plastic, food waste, and dry organic waste. The materials are then sorted and processed the following way:

Plastic is sorted according to types, then shredded (optional) and heat pressed down to create new products, such as chairs, roofs, panels, or bins. Learn more on WF23 University.
Food waste can be composted or fed to Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL), which can then be used as livestock feed. Many chicken farm feed cost has been eliminated through this process. Find the BSFL guide here.
Dry Biomass Waste e.g., rice husks, coffee farm waste, sticks and leaves all can be converted into biochar — a natural fertilizer which can also be used as clean cooking fuel. Our innovative Biochar SHaCK design uses the excess heat of biochar making process and converts it into off-grid electricity.

Setting Up, Finance and Market Linkages of an MRC

⚙️ Equipment & Layout

An MRC is modular. Depending on your focus, here’s what you might include:

Plastic Upcycling Station: Plastic shredder, tabletop or $300 heat press, gloves, metal molds
BSFL Zone: Trays (plastic or wooden), moisture-controlled bins, sieving mesh, egg-laying stations or attractant substrate
Biochar Stove: TLUD stove/Trench, collection drum

💰 Costs & ROI

Startup costs vary by size, methods, and other variables:

Small MRC: $400–$1,000
Medium with BSFL & biochar: $2,000–$3,000
Large (full deployment with branding, power backup): $5,000+

Use our Finances Page or contact us for a customized breakdown.

On average, an MRC can pay itself back in 3–12 months, depending on market access and staff efficiency.

🛡️ Safety Essentials

Gloves, heat-proof mats, boots, safety instructions poster
Ventilation for heat press / TLUD zone
Fire extinguisher / water bucket near thermal zones

📦 Market & Sales

Products from an MRC sell well locally:

BSFL: Chicken feed producers, farmers, Use in own animal farm
Tiles / Panels / Roofs: Furniture makers, builders
Plastic Products: Local Market
BioChar / Briquettes: Restaurants, households, farmers, gardens, carbon credit

HOW TO START: A SIMPLE ROADMAP

GET INSPIRED: REAL EXAMPLES

Below are few examples where Waste Free ’23 helped them getting started and now they’re self-sufficient:

Manado, Indonesia – Women-led plastic upcycling that generates ~140 trash bins, roofs and plastic panels/week. Watch their full interview.
Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda– Market-run BSFL processing ~5kg/day into BSFL for their chicken farm. Watch their work.
Wasini Island – Cleaning the beaches → Collecting the plastics from different parts of the island → Upcycling the trash at their MRC. Watch their progress here.
Nairobi, Kenya – Jirani Recyclers started to upcycle plastics and create valuable products like this chair.

Conclusion

Waste Free ’23 Micro Recycling Centers (MRCs) are a great way to reduce waste, create jobs, and educate people about sustainable living. They are a relatively low-cost investment that can provide significant benefits for the community.

Are you interested in recycling business, sustainability or entrepreneurship?

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