Materials recovery facility tool kit

Materials recovery facilities (MRFs) were established in different barangays (community or village) of the Philippines to recover recyclable materials from municipal solid waste. Required under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, these facilities were constructed out of local funds, grants, and loans but have attained only a limited degree of success. This condition is attributed to the lack of, or incomplete, understanding of the basic aspects of MRFs in terms of design, construction, and operations, as well as the parameters for a successful and sustained operation. This tool kit provides a simple and practical document that serves as a basic reference for local government units and the private sector in establishing and operating an MRF. It also serves as an aid for financing institutions in evaluating loan or grant applications for the said solid waste management facility. Prepared using mostly Philippine data, the document can be applicable to developing countries with similar socioeconomic and waste management conditions.