This research is a proposed upgrading model for an existing self-organized urban pattern known as Zabbaleen district in Cairo. The area is a part of Manshiyat Naser settlement which is the largest informal community in the city of Cairo, Egypt. This type of informal urban form and particularly the case study model in hand (Garbage City) motivated authors to discuss the existing potentials of this self-organized community. Those potentials are lessons to learn from; such potentials may change the way of current upgrading methods employed by scholars and professionals. Garbage city is a unique model of self-organized community in a complex urban fabric that offers living and working in one place and has the most efficient recycling system worldwide; an inspiring model of self-built economy and successful recycling system built by inhabitants who live and work in poor conditions. This research suggests a method that considers the advantages and disadvantages of such community as opportunities for upgrading plans. Observing people's behavior is a key parameter in the proposed method of upgrading. The aim is to propose a contemporary model of self-sustained recycling community based on existing social, economic and environmental parameters. The proposed upgrading opens the discussion about how spontaneous urban forms can inspire formal urban planning strategies and vision by observing its structure and growth. Therefore, raising the question of how the future intervention can achieve success through the development of self-organized communities depending on existing parameters?