The following recommendations will enable harnessing the untapped potential of waste-to-resource initiatives in Pakistan by engaging youth, supporting formal enterprises, integrating gender perspectives, developing recycling infrastructures, and coordinating urban waste management efforts:

o   Develop policies to integrate youth, especially young women, in the circular economy and environmental initiatives, providing education, employment, and skills training, particularly in sustainable practices and waste management.

o   Promote youth entrepreneurship in sustainability.

o   Provide support and incentives to formal waste management businesses, including tax benefits, grants, or subsidies, to enhance their competitiveness against the informal sector.

o   Incorporate gender perspectives in circular economy policies, especially in waste management. Implement gender-based quotas, affirmative action in male-dominated fields, and offer specific training and fiscal incentives for women entrepreneurs.

o   Establish a comprehensive plastic recycling infrastructure to convert plastic waste into high-quality resin for industrial use. Incentivise the collection, sorting, and processing of plastic waste to reduce reliance on virgin plastic.

o   Implement a coordinated policy for municipal solid waste management in urban areas. This should involve collaboration among local communities, municipal authorities, environmentalists, and various government levels to resolve conflicts, allocate resources effectively, and promote waste reduction and recycling initiatives.