The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is partnering with the City of Recife, Brazil's Federal Government, and businesses like Mars Inc., Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever to tackle waste and plastic pollution. The collaboration aims to unlock up to R$300 million for collection and recycling systems in Recife, creating jobs, improving conditions for waste pickers, and keeping plastics out of Brazil's rivers. The initiative aims to develop a new approach to collection and recycling systems for packaging, with the hope of informing national policy and becoming a model for other cities. The Foundation and municipality will work with stakeholders to develop a detailed plan for the city, with implementation expected to begin in 2027. The Closing the Loop report highlights the potential for a better urban waste system in Brazil to recover BRL 14 billion in recyclable value and create around 9,300 jobs by 2030, emphasizing the important role of waste pickers in recovering recyclable materials and calling for systemic change in plastics and packaging. Clean Rivers, a foundation backed by the United Arab Emirates, is also taking action to address water and waste challenges in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brazil.