What is a mail recovery center

A Mail Recovery Center (MRC) is a facility operated by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that specializes in recovering and processing undeliverable mail. The primary goal of an MRC is to identify and correct errors in mailing addresses, allowing mail to be delivered to its intended recipients.

Mail Recovery Centers are typically located in major cities and are equipped with advanced technology and specialized staff to handle the large volume of undeliverable mail that passes through them. Here's how they work:

  1. Undeliverable mail is sent to the MRC from local post offices and other USPS facilities.
  2. The MRC uses automated sorting machines and manual processing to identify the errors in the mailing addresses.
  3. The errors are corrected, and the mail is then re-routed to its intended destination.
  4. If the corrected address is still invalid, the mail is returned to the sender or held at the MRC for a specified period.

Mail Recovery Centers play a crucial role in ensuring that mail is delivered efficiently and effectively. They help to:

  1. Reduce the number of undeliverable pieces of mail, which saves time and resources for the USPS.
  2. Improve the accuracy of mailing addresses, which helps to reduce errors and delays.
  3. Increase the chances of mail being delivered to its intended recipient.

Some of the services offered by Mail Recovery Centers include:

  1. Address correction: MRCs use advanced technology and manual processing to correct errors in mailing addresses.
  2. Address standardization: MRCs standardize addresses to ensure that they conform to USPS guidelines.
  3. Address validation: MRCs verify the accuracy of mailing addresses to ensure that they are valid and deliverable.
  4. Mail forwarding: MRCs forward mail to its intended destination if the corrected address is valid.

Overall, Mail Recovery Centers are an essential part of the USPS's mail processing and delivery system, helping to ensure that mail is delivered efficiently and effectively to its intended recipients.