River Pollution & Waste Mismanagement: Bangladesh’s Mathabhanga River is choking on untreated drains, household and market refuse (including plastics), and illegal encroachment, leaving stretches dry and foul-smelling. Myth-Busting Recycling & Plastics: A new report argues the “myth of plastic recycling,” noting only a small share becomes new products, while plastic production keeps rising. Deposit Return & Quality Claims: Ireland’s waste industry group says household recycling matches deposit return scheme quality for cans and bottles, pushing back on “downcycling” accusations. Community Litter Cuts: A UK behavior-change pilot with major brands reports a 16% drop in food-and-drink litter, plus big gains in cleanliness satisfaction. Textiles & Circularity: Portugal recovers 8.5 tonnes of fishing nets for new clothing and footwear, while EU governments push tougher rules on ultra-fast fashion to reduce waste and improve recyclability. E-Waste to Materials: Germany’s “From Lab to Market” challenge highlights Exære’s tech to recover rare earths from e-waste. Plastic Waste Funding in Ghana: Ghana’s circular economy center urges investment in waste collection and recycling, citing low collection and recycling rates amid flooding pressures. Extreme Heat & Waste Systems: Baltimore extends its extreme-heat alert, underscoring how heat strains public services and community safety. Reverse Vending Pilots: Wimbledon tested reverse vending for evian bottles ahead of the UK deposit return scheme rollout. Local Enforcement: Nigeria’s Ejigbo council warns residents against dumping refuse on roads and medians, linking it to blocked drainage and flooding risk.