Recycling Station Locations in Arknights Endfield: Where and How to find them

Image credit: Hypergryph

What to know

  • Recycling Stations are overworld resource nodes tied to regional development
  • They generate Aerospace Materials used for ship and cabin upgrades
  • Stations must be unlocked and can be upgraded for better yields
  • Materials are claimed at fixed intervals, not infinitely

Recycling Stations are one of the most quietly important progression systems in Arknights Endfield. While they don’t look flashy, they act as a reliable source of Aerospace Materials, which directly gate upgrades for the OMV Dijiang and several long-term systems. If you ignore them, ship and cabin upgrades will eventually slow to a crawl.

This guide explains exactly how Recycling Stations work, where to find them, how to unlock and upgrade them, and how to use them efficiently as part of your regular exploration loop.

Arknights Endfield Recycling Stations details

CategoryDetails
System typeOverworld resource facility
Primary outputAerospace Materials
Unlock methodRegional Development
Upgrade levelsMultiple (tiered)
Collection methodFixed-interval claim
Reset behaviorAutomatic after interval

What a Recycling Station is in Arknights Endfield

A Recycling Station is a fixed facility placed in the open world of Talos-II. Lore-wise, these stations convert accumulated residential or environmental waste into reusable Aerospace-grade materials. Mechanically, they function as semi-passive resource generators that reward exploration and regional progression rather than combat.

Once unlocked, a Recycling Station can be revisited repeatedly to claim materials, making it one of the few reliable, repeatable sources of Aerospace Materials outside of quests and milestones.

Visually, they are easy to recognize once you know what to look for:

  • A compact platform with stacked yellow storage modules
  • A vertical mast or pylon structure attached to the unit
  • A clear interaction prompt when approached

Locations of All Recycling Stations in Arknights Endfield

RegionClosest Area NameExact Landmark / Where to Stand
Originium Science ParkResearch CenterOn the path from Research Center toward Mountain Path Slope
Cliffside Mining AreaMeteorological StationDirectly beside the Meteorological Station building
Bonecrusher Warcamp / Plateau TrunkwayEvacuation ZoneRight on the Evacuation Zone marker near the road
Valley TransferAbandoned Trail entranceEast side of Valley Transfer, before the path becomes Abandoned Trail
Hub WestOld Water PlantOn top of the Old Water Plant area
Hub BaseConstruction SiteIn the Construction Site between Hub Base and Southern Meadows
AIC Research AreaWorker Dorms roadOutside AIC Research Center, along the road toward Worker Dorms

Recycling Stations are scattered across the world regions in Arknights: Endfield — near hubs, exploration zones, and major paths.

  • Use your map icons (owl-shaped) to plan routes so you can visit multiple stations in one exploration run.
  • Since they reset daily, make a habit of including them in your daily exploration loop

Where to find Recycling Stations in Arknights Endfield

On the Talos-II world map, Recycling Stations are marked with a distinct owl-styled icon under the Resource category.

They appear in multiple regions across the map — these are scattered around major exploration zones, near other resource nodes like Mineral Beds and Rare Gathering Sites.

Recycling Stations are scattered across Talos-II and are usually placed along:

  • Main exploration paths
  • Near regional hubs
  • Close to infrastructure nodes like pylons or transit points

They are marked on the map once discovered, making future visits easy.

Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube - ZaFrostPet
Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube – ZaFrostPet

Rather than listing every exact coordinate, the best approach is to treat them as part of your exploration flow. If you’re moving through a region for quests or mapping, you’ll naturally encounter most of them.

How Recycling Stations work in Arknights Endfield

Recycling Stations operate on a claim-and-wait system rather than continuous interaction.

When you interact with a station, you collect all materials currently stored inside it. After that, the station enters a cooldown period and begins producing materials again automatically.

Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube - ZaFrostPet
Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube – ZaFrostPet

You do not need to supply items, power, or operators. Production continues in the background as long as the station remains unlocked.

Core mechanics at a glance
  • Materials are generated passively
  • You must manually collect them
  • Output depends on station level
  • Cooldowns are fixed and predictable

How to unlock Recycling Stations in Arknights Endfield

Most Recycling Stations are locked the first time you encounter them. Unlocking them is tied to regional progression rather than story combat.

Step 1: Reach the required region

Each station belongs to a specific region, such as Valley Pass or similar early-to-midgame zones. You must first have access to the region through normal exploration and story progression.

Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube - ZaFrostPet
Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube – ZaFrostPet

Step 2: Increase Regional Development Level

Recycling Stations unlock when your Regional Development Level reaches a certain threshold. This level increases by:

  • Completing quests in the region
  • Activating regional facilities
  • Building or restoring infrastructure
  • Advancing local objectives

Once the required level is reached, the station’s lock icon disappears and the unlock option becomes available.

Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube - ZaFrostPet
Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube – ZaFrostPet

Step 3: Pay the unlock cost

Unlocking a station requires a small amount of regional currency or development points. After confirming, the station becomes active and immediately starts generating materials.

How to upgrade Recycling Stations

Upgrading a Recycling Station improves both the quantity and quality of materials it produces.

Step 1: Interact with the station

Approach the station and open its interface. If upgrades are available, you’ll see an Upgrade option alongside the Gather Resources prompt.

Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube - ZaFrostPet
Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube – ZaFrostPet

Step 2: Check upgrade requirements

Each upgrade tier has a cost, usually involving regional resources or development currency. Higher tiers may also require your Regional Development Level to increase further.

Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube - ZaFrostPet
Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube – ZaFrostPet

Step 3: Apply the upgrade

Once upgraded, the station’s production improves automatically. You don’t need to reactivate or reassign anything.

Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube - ZaFrostPet
Image credit: Hypergryph / Via: YouTube – ZaFrostPet

Upgrades are permanent and apply only to that specific station.

What materials Recycling Stations produce

The primary output of Recycling Stations is Aerospace Materials. These are core upgrade components used across multiple progression systems.

Aerospace Material types
MaterialUsage
Aerospace Material IEarly and mid-game cabin upgrades
Aerospace Material IIHigher-tier ship and system upgrades

Higher-tier materials typically begin appearing after upgrading stations and increasing regional development.

What Aerospace Materials are used for

Aerospace Materials are a major progression bottleneck, which makes Recycling Stations especially valuable. They are used to:

  • Upgrade OMV Dijiang cabins
  • Unlock higher cabin tiers
  • Improve production and utility modules
  • Progress ship-wide systems tied to exploration and logistics

Without steady Aerospace Material income, several upgrades become delayed or inaccessible.

How to use Recycling Stations efficiently

Efficiency with Recycling Stations is about habit, not micromanagement.

Build a collection route

As you explore daily or revisit regions for quests, make short detours to nearby stations. Claiming materials takes seconds and adds up over time.

Upgrade stations early

Even a single upgrade significantly improves long-term returns. Prioritize upgrades in regions you visit often.

Don’t let materials cap unnoticed

While stations don’t overflow aggressively, leaving them uncollected for too long is wasted potential. A quick sweep every session keeps your Aerospace stock healthy.

Common mistakes to avoid while using Recyling Stations

  • Ignoring locked stations instead of checking unlock conditions
  • Forgetting to upgrade stations after unlocking them
  • Treating Aerospace Materials as optional rather than core resources
  • Only collecting from stations once and never revisiting

Recycling Stations are designed to be revisited. One-time use severely limits their value.

Using Recycling Stations as a Material farming device

Unlike quest rewards, Recycling Stations scale with your progression. As regions develop and stations are upgraded, they quietly turn into one of your most consistent sources of high-value materials.

They also reinforce Endfield’s design philosophy: exploration and regional investment are just as important as combat when it comes to long-term power growth.

Recycling Stations may look simple, but they play a critical role in Endfield’s progression loop. By unlocking them through regional development, upgrading them when possible, and collecting their output regularly, you secure a steady supply of Aerospace Materials that keeps your ship and systems advancing smoothly. Treat them as part of your routine, and you’ll never feel starved for upgrades.


Thanks for taking the time to go through this Recycling Stations guide for Arknights Endfield. If it helped you understand things better, do share your thoughts, impressions, or doubts in the comments section. We keep a close watch and try to respond promptly to ensure you always get the support you need.

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