AGP Executive Report

Recycling Enforcement Under Fire (Lagos): Nigeria’s LAWMA condemned attacks on enforcement officers during illegal dumping crackdowns along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, vowing continued action to protect sanitation and public health. Local Governance & Waste Missteps (Philippines): Malacañang says Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and officials face a DILG investigation over alleged administrative lapses after ordering uncollected garbage dumped in front of the DENR office. Circular Packaging Push (UK): Amcor won RecyClass Recycled Plastics Traceability certification for PCR-containing flexible films ahead of stricter UK Plastic Packaging Tax rules that will only count PCR toward recycled-content exemptions. Reuse Over Throwaway (Global): PR3 launched a new global symbol to help identify truly reusable packaging systems, aiming to cut packaging waste and plastic pollution beyond recycling labels. Circular Paper at Scale (UK): Essity expanded its Tork PaperCircle closed-loop service, recycling used paper hand towels into new tissue products and reporting strong growth in both customers and volumes. Major Recycling-Plant Fire (London): Multiple reports describe a large blaze at a south London recycling centre with heavy smoke and major travel disruption, underscoring ongoing fire risks in waste facilities. E-Waste Trade Warning (Bangladesh): A report says Bangladesh is importing e-waste despite Basel commitments, with weak enforcement and limited recycling capacity driving informal processing. Materials & Policy Backdrop (India): Haryana set a Dec 2027 deadline for Yamuna pollution-control projects, pushing sewage and industrial effluent treatment to improve river water quality. Training for Climate & Waste (India): IGNOU announced a new MSc Climate Change programme that includes waste management and circular economy topics, targeting students and professionals. Thrift & Reuse Culture (US): Coverage highlights thrift shopping’s rebound as a sustainability and cost-saving trend, reflecting broader demand for reuse.

Recycling Fire & Transit Disruption: A huge blaze at a Bermondsey recycling centre in south London drew 100 firefighters and triggered “major incident” status, with rail services into London Bridge cancelled or diverted for hours. Plastic Reduction Policy: Angola’s Huíla province is reinforcing its single-use plastic reduction plan, pushing reusable alternatives and selective collection while admitting plastic build-up still persists in markets and public spaces. Local Waste Enforcement: Havering Council issued multiple planning enforcement and breach notices in May, including orders tied to missing refuse and recycling facilities and unauthorised extensions. Circular Economy in Practice: A data-center industry discussion highlights circularity beyond recycling—designing infrastructure to reuse resources and reduce future waste via heat reuse and smarter operations. Textile Recycling Tech Dispute: Harvest Nano and Dr. Refael Aharon confirmed termination of license rights tied to a Michigan textile-waste recycling system, ending a dispute over converting post-consumer textiles into higher-value cellulose products. Return & Earn Recycling: Nasinu (Fiji) launched a Return and Earn beverage-container refund program to cut litter and boost cleanliness. Water Reuse Upgrade: Anglian Water began upgrades at Rendlesham Water Recycling Centre to improve wastewater treatment and reduce phosphorus impacts on local waterways. PoP Idol Management: Mumbai’s Ganesh festival organizers oppose an immediate plaster-of-Paris idol ban, backing 100% collection plus recycling and reuse instead.

Waste Crisis Response: Davao City’s sanitary landfill suspension after a May trash-slide has triggered emergency disinfection and decontamination as garbage piles up, with officials urging residents to hold waste at home until disposal resumes. Policy & Compliance: England’s “Simpler Recycling” rules are tightening—households are warned that tissues can’t be recycled and shouldn’t be flushed, or councils may refuse bin collections. Circular Economy Push: Qatar says it will steer 35% of factories to circular economy practices by 2030, tying sustainability to its national manufacturing strategy. Local Landfill Fight: Honolulu City Council budget votes have removed funding for a proposed West Oahu landfill site at Makaiwa Hills, a win for residents concerned about carrying the next waste burden. Community Recycling Wins: South Africa’s Petco Awards spotlight recycling entrepreneurs and separation-at-source projects diverting recyclables and creating jobs, including initiatives in Orange Farm and Alexandra. Construction Waste Diversion: Holcim launches low-carbon cement plus a platform to recycle construction and demolition waste into new building materials in the UAE. Plastic-to-Fuel Breakthrough: Researchers report a low-pressure chemical process turning polystyrene waste into jet-fuel-range fuel, aiming to make plastic waste conversion more cost-competitive. Regional Cooperation: Nepal’s environment minister calls for stronger South Asian cooperation to tackle plastic pollution, climate impacts, and biodiversity loss.

Waste Crisis Response: Davao City’s sanitary landfill suspension after a May 20 trash-slide has triggered emergency disinfection and decontamination across neighborhoods as garbage piles up, with officials urging residents to temporarily store waste at home while the city scrambles for disposal options. Rights of Nature Push: The Catholic Church in the Cordillera is urging local governments to adopt “Rights of Nature” ordinances so forests and polluted waterways can be legally protected and even sued for. Zero-Waste Jobs & Capacity: Türkiye-backed zero waste projects showcased at Istanbul’s Zero Waste Forum highlight recovery-rate gains, skills transfer, and planned expansion across dozens of countries. Coastal Cleanup: St. Johns County (Florida) volunteers removed 651 pounds of trash during the Turtletown USA Beach Cleanup, timed to protect sea turtle nesting habitat. Textile Waste to Value: The UAE’s Naseej initiative is mobilizing residents to recycle and remanufacture textile waste, targeting 220,000 tonnes annually. Circular Composting: Tata Steel UISL launched “Prakriti Sneh,” turning biodegradable municipal waste into compost to cut landfill burden and support urban gardening. Enforcement Focus: Ghana’s sanitation authorities are calling for stricter prosecution of sanitation offenders and pushing “one household, one dustbin” to curb open dumping and unsafe practices.

Public Health & Waste Safety: Nigeria’s LAWMA issued an Ebola preparedness advisory to health facilities and medical waste handlers, stressing infection control and strict segregation of infectious waste even as it reports no confirmed cases in Lagos. E-waste/Medical Waste Risk: WHO reported nearly 500 Ebola cases in central Africa, underscoring why safe handling of healthcare waste matters as outbreaks expand. Illegal Dumping Crackdown: Davao’s DENR XI warned it will file cases over garbage dumped in front of its office, citing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and pointing to CCTV-identified violators. Local Waste System Pressure: The same Davao landfill shutdown context is driving more visible trash dumping, with the city and DENR trading blame over collection impacts. Recycling Infrastructure & Fire Prevention: Acton’s transfer station blaze was linked to improperly discarded batteries, with officials urging correct battery disposal to prevent future fires. Circular Textiles: The UAE launched “Naseej,” a national textile circularity initiative aimed at organizing collection, reuse, recycling, and waste reduction across a fast-growing textile waste stream. Community Cleanup: Nepal’s Army ran a large trekking-route litter cleanup, collecting about 40 sacks of waste for proper management. Rights of Nature: In the Philippines’ Cordillera, the Catholic Church is pushing local governments to adopt “Rights of Nature” ordinances that could let ecosystems and polluted waterways stand in court.

Illegal dumping showdown in Davao: The Philippines’ EMB condemned trash dumped outside DENR Region XI in Davao City after a landfill trash slide, calling it unlawful under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and saying legal action is being prepared. Local waste crisis costs: Margao, India, says it’s paying Rs 44 lakh a month to collect and haul waste because it lacks a fully operating treatment plant, with wet waste trucked ~30 km to Cacora. Recycling rules move into enforcement: Malaysia says recycling facilities at shopping malls will be mandatory for business licence applications and renewals, rolling out in phases starting this month. Reuse over recycling push: PR3 unveiled a new global symbol to mark reusable packaging and reuse systems, arguing reuse can cut single-use packaging far more than recycling alone. Community clean-up and climate messaging: World Environment Day activities highlighted citizen action and livelihood-linked climate solutions, from Kenya’s Kibra clean-up to Johannesburg’s Alexandra litter-pick drive. SAF from used cooking oil: Japan’s “Fry to Fly” program is scaling household collection of used cooking oil to produce sustainable aviation fuel. Waste collection disruptions: Residents in Rawalpindi, Pakistan report Sunday Market piles of garbage reaching 40–50 feet after it was turned into a temporary filth depot, forcing vendors to relocate.

Illegal dumping crackdown: Philippines’ DENR-EMB condemned Davao City’s move to dump garbage outside its Region XI office, calling it unlawful under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act after the May 21 sanitary landfill suspension following a deadly trash slide. Recycling access rules: Malaysia will require shopping malls to provide recycling facilities for business licence applications and renewals, starting with engagement and pilots before phased enforcement nationwide. Food-waste rollout backlash: East Suffolk’s “Better Recycling” program is drawing complaints as residents report missed deliveries and food caddies attracting flies and ants, raising concerns about cross-contamination and practical implementation. E-waste collection push: Ireland’s WEEE Ireland and Roscommon County Council are running a free electronics and battery drop-off day for items with plugs, batteries, or cables. Local diversion wins: Cebu City opened an “Ecostation” to process waste and cut landfill-bound volumes by up to 15 tons daily, using shredding and composting-linked outputs. Deposit return expansion: Türkiye’s Zero Waste Deposit Management System will pay consumers 1 lira per eligible returned beverage container starting July 1 via reverse-vending and collection points. Landfill capacity update: Charleston County is set to quadruple Bees Ferry Landfill capacity with a nearly $19M project, extending landfill life by about 20 years. E-waste worker health warning (Ghana): Coverage highlights Agbogbloshie’s informal e-waste recycling and open burning near a lagoon, stressing unsafe practices and unfair mineral pricing.

Water & Greywater Infrastructure: Memphis confirmed xAI’s affiliate closed on an $820,000 land deal for 13 acres tied to the paused Colossus Water Recycling Plant, keeping the $80M greywater project on hold but signaling intent to move forward. Local Waste Crisis & Accountability: Davao City blamed DENR for worsening garbage problems after its landfill closure, while Calgary moved to fix residents’ “garbage juice” odor tied to leachate systems at the Shepard Waste Management Facility. Electronics Recycling Push: Anchorage held a free electronics recycling event accepting phones, computers, and lithium batteries, and Freeport, Illinois ran another electronics drop-off aimed at cutting illegal dumping. Textiles Circularity: The UAE’s Naseej initiative gained public support to reduce textile waste by making it easier to donate, reuse, and recycle clothing. Budget & Collection Changes: Goldsboro adopted a $103.2M budget including higher garbage and recycling fees, and Flagstaff shifted glass collection to a citywide drop-off model starting July 1. Policy & Circular Economy: Uzbekistan extended a zero recycling fee for new bus imports through 2027, and Tanzania unveiled a Sh7T environmental programme linking waste management upgrades to Vision 2050 goals. Waste Service Disruptions: Michigan residents reported missed pickups after Priority Waste’s promised Thursday catch-up, with complaints continuing into Friday. Flood-Waste Link: Ghana’s NADMO and Zoomlion launched a 12-week campaign urging people not to dump waste into drains to reduce flooding impacts.

Solid Waste Crisis: Davao City says DENR is to blame for its worsening garbage problem after the May 22 suspension of its landfill following a trash slide, with residents now piling waste in streets while officials work on stabilization. Radioactive Scrap Crackdown: DENR ordered the closure of Chinese-run Philippine Sanjia-Steel after PNRI detected uranium and thorium traces in imported scrap and finished steel, canceling its environmental compliance certificate and issuing fines. Recycling Access at the Local Level: Qatar’s Al Rayyan Municipality distributed 885 blue recycling bins (plus 885 grey organic bins) in May under its waste segregation at source push, with more coverage planned through June. Floods + Waste Link: Ghana launched a 12-week anti-flood campaign with Zoomlion and NADMO, targeting drain-clogging dumping as a preventable driver of flooding. Fire Safety for Battery Waste: US fire officials warn that lithium-ion batteries exposed to floodwater can ignite hours or even days later, urging residents to stop tossing them into regular trash. Circular Plastics: Emirates says it repurposed 88,000kg of inflight plastic into new onboard items using a closed-loop recycling model. Queue Fixes for Recycling Sites: Lincolnshire is considering a booking system to reduce traffic queues at a recycling centre. Food Waste Sorting Wins: Ireland reports brown-bin food waste recycling hitting a 70% presentation rate, with 1.4M households using the service. Textile Circularity Push: UAE launched “Naseej” to cut textile waste and shift away from throwaway clothing, pairing collection and recycling plans with consumer behavior change.

Radioactive Scrap Crackdown (Philippines): DENR ordered the closure of Chinese-run Philippine Sanjia-Steel after PNRI detected uranium and thorium isotopes in imported scrap, canceling its ECC and issuing a cease-and-desist plus a fine. River Plastic Cleanup (Manila): DENR signed a five-year partnership with The Ocean Cleanup to remove floating plastic from the Pasig River, pairing interception tech with producer accountability and data sharing. World Environment Day Push (Ghana): Frimpong-Manso Institute urged urgent action against galamsey, warning illegal mining threatens forests, food security, and climate resilience. Local Waste Crisis (Davao, Philippines): An NGO says Davao’s landfill suspension after a collapse has left uncollected garbage piling up across streets and communities. Vuda Project Rejected (Fiji): Fiji’s environment ministry rejected a waste-to-energy and port proposal after a technical review found major unresolved legal and safety issues. Battery Fire Safety (Michigan/Canada-linked report): Fire officials urged residents to recycle lithium-ion batteries instead of trash after a suspected battery-related fire at a transfer station. Recycling Service Changes (US/UK): Billings, Montana ended curbside cardboard recycling over rising costs and low participation; Scarborough, Maine switched providers and added optional curbside composting. Closed-Loop Plastic (Emirates): Emirates says it repurposed 88 tonnes of inflight meal plastics into new onboard items via its closed-loop program.

Municipal Budget Pressure: North Carolina’s Town of Shallotte will stop municipal recycling service June 25, citing rising operating costs and state-mandated fee increases, with residents urged to subscribe directly if they want continued pickup. Service Disruption: Havant Borough Council will pause recycling collections for one week starting June 8 in multiple areas to clear a backlog, while residents report long delays and overflowing bins. Circular Economy Events: Istanbul’s Zero Waste Festival opens June 4 at Atatürk Airport, with recycling workshops and circular economy programming running through June 7. Deposit Return Safety: A University College Cork study says deposit return machines for cans and bottles pose no biological risk to public health, though they can cause nuisance odours. Waste-to-Value Pilot: Organic Recycling Systems begins a hard-biomass gasification pilot under Sanjeevak 2.0 to convert shells into syngas and biochar. Repair & Reuse Push: Tbilisi’s Repair & Reuse Day on June 14 will feature repair zones and a recycling drop-off area for aluminum, paper and cardboard. Health & Sanitation Crisis: Cuba’s fuel shortages have left Havana with prolonged rubbish buildup, raising public health and sanitation concerns.

Air Quality vs Recycling Gap: Israel cut major air pollutants sharply since 2000, but still lags on recycling and renewables, with experts warning natural gas isn’t a long-term climate fix. Food Waste Diversion: Washington and Ramsey County expand home composting for food scraps starting July 6, aiming to keep organics out of trash and turn them back into soil. Vape Deposit Push: UK waste operators want a refundable up-to-£5 vape deposit to stop millions of devices ending in household bins and sparking fires in waste systems. Recycling Program Changes: Vienna, West Virginia plans a town hall to shape a new curbside recycling contract as the current one nears expiration. Local Rate Decisions: Woodstock, Virginia adopted new trash and recycling rates tied to a new contract, adding biweekly curbside recycling from July 1. Fire Safety at Waste Sites: A garbage truck fire at a Michigan landfill was extinguished with no injuries reported, underscoring ongoing risks at disposal facilities. Circular Economy in Action: Aruba opened a new EcoTech Waste Disposal Zone and highlighted “Baki den Bario” results, including hundreds of tons of collected waste. Policy & Enforcement: Fiji’s Suva City Council welcomed stronger public health powers for environmental health officers to enter informal settlements and act faster.

Waste Crisis Disruptions: Davao City’s garbage collection is badly disrupted after the suspension of its major landfill following a deadly trash-slide collapse, with search and retrieval still under way and officials warning of wider public health and flooding risks as monsoon season approaches. Local Sanitation Push: Cape Coast, Ghana, has hired 50 new sweepers to keep streets, gutters, beaches, and refuse sites clean year-round, pairing cleanup with resident littering education. Service Reliability Under Pressure: Metro Detroit residents continue to report missed trash, recycling, and compost pickups tied to Priority Waste operations after it took over contracts, and the company says a new CEO is stepping in to fix reliability. Recycling Access & Incentives: Grass Valley Recycling in California is paying residents for cans and bottles via redemption value, while Roscommon, Ireland is hosting a free e-waste and battery drop-off day to boost 2026 recycling targets. Fire & Safety Watch: Multiple agencies responded to a major fire at Cimco Recycling in Sterling, and a separate investigation is underway after a fire at Keene’s recycling center and transfer station. Policy & Infrastructure: Ghana’s engineering body is calling for an urgent overhaul of stormwater and drainage policy, warning that drains are increasingly clogged by waste and failing under rapid urban growth. Circular Economy Moves: West Australia is funding the “Remade in WA” program to recycle end-of-life solar panels and lithium-ion batteries, aiming to cut landfill disposal.

Waste-to-Energy Backlash: Manila’s Smokey Mountain waste-to-energy incineration plan faces renewed opposition from environmental groups and anti-poverty advocates, who warn of health risks and displacement as the project targets 3,000 tons of municipal waste daily. Disaster Recovery Recycling Funding: North Carolina DEQ is awarding $25M in Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure grants across 16 western counties to upgrade recycling equipment and better manage storm debris, aiming to keep recoverable materials out of landfills. Recycling Fire Safety Scrutiny: Pensacola is investigating EMR Southern Recycling after a May 26 scrapyard fire and alleges “largely avoidable” deficiencies in following fire marshal instructions, escalating legal pressure after multiple fires. Local Recycling Disruptions: Dearborn Heights is withholding $250,000 from Priority Waste and demanding a $13,000 deduction after delays in compost, recycling, and bulk pickups left curbside piles uncollected. Electronics Recycling Push: Tippecanoe County will hold a free E-Waste Day this Saturday for TVs, monitors, speakers, printers, cell phones, cords, and more, with paper shredding also available. Community Concerns Over Waste Facilities: Essex residents are “deeply alarmed” by plans to expand a waste transfer/recycling site near a primary school, citing dust and health worries for children. Packaging Rules Tighten: A report says the US is updating packaging regulations to curb “greenwashing,” with tougher standards for “recyclable” and “compostable” claims. Recycling Infrastructure in Practice: A Gogebic Range solid waste garage fire in Michigan was ruled an accident after coordinated firefighting efforts.

Waste-to-Energy Debate: Manila’s planned P26.648B, 100MW Smokey Mountain waste incineration project faces renewed pushback from environmental groups and urban-poor advocates, who warn of alleged violations and higher health and displacement risks. Flood-Ready Cleanup: In the Philippines, displaced workers are being mobilized under the Tupad program to declog waterways and drainage ahead of Metro Manila’s rainy season. Circular Economy Training: Seoul Design Foundation launches a six-month “Upcycling Edition” incubator to help circular-economy startups turn sustainable ideas into scalable businesses. Food & Garden Bin Rules: England rolls out “Simpler Recycling” changes that standardize what can go in bins, including new limits that leave some items like tea bags to be composted or taken to facilities. Plastics Policy Pressure: Ghana’s styrofoam ban for 2027 is under scrutiny, with critics arguing past bans failed without tougher enforcement. Local Waste Tensions: In Pimpri-Chinchwad, housing societies threaten to dump wet waste if municipal plans shift collection burdens onto residents without required organic processing. Tech for Plastic Waste: Indonesia’s BRIN says it has advanced pyrolysis tech that can convert plastic waste into industrial fuel, aiming to scale beyond earlier low-capacity pilots. Recycling Safety Alerts: UK reporting highlights common recycling mistakes that can contaminate loads and even trigger fires, including food-soiled cardboard and crushed vapes.

Waste Leadership Change: Priority Waste named Aaron Johnson as its new CEO after the company was acquired by TPG, aiming to stabilize service across 140 Metro Detroit communities. Recycling Policy Shift: Ocala, Florida will end curbside recycling on July 6 and move to drop-off only, citing contamination and rising costs. Plastic Crackdown: California’s first phase of its plastic pollution law goes live June 1, with industry groups warning the rules are costly and unclear. Open Burning Alarm: Residents in Chicalim, India raised concerns about alleged open burning of plastic waste, calling for enforcement to prevent toxic fumes. Fuel Leak Response: Antigua’s APUA confirmed a fuel leak at the former Friars Hill facility and says multiple agencies are coordinating containment to protect residents and the environment. Community Cleanup: The Himalayan Cleanup 2026 mobilized 100+ villagers in West Kameng to collect plastic waste and push for producer accountability. Infrastructure Funding: Minnesota Sen. Jordan Rasmusson secured nearly $8.5M for regional solid waste upgrades, including ash recovery and recycling operations. Recycling Site Fire: Flintshire’s Greenfield Household Recycling Centre reopened after a skip fire involving an electrical waste skip. EV Battery Expansion: Africa’s Spiro raised $215M to scale battery-swapping and EV infrastructure across multiple countries.