AGP Executive Report

Reuse & recycling growth: Circular Services is buying NYC’s Re:Dish, aiming to scale reusable dishware and containers after diverting 9M+ single-use items from landfill. Circular textiles: M&S, New Look, Sainsbury’s and Oxfam team up with Circle-8 to sort and pre-process end-of-life clothing into new textile inputs, with a West Yorkshire pilot starting in January. Local recycling rules: Rapid City asks residents not to leave recyclables outside full containers, while Bracknell Forest reviews household recycling centre opening hours after concerns about fly-tipping. Public park safety & waste: Delhi’s LG orders DDA and MCD to audit all public parks for lighting, security patrolling, cleanliness and waste management within a week. E-waste on the calendar: Buena Vista hosts a free/low-cost e-waste recycling event Sept. 26, and multiple cities are running electronics or hazardous waste drop-offs. Industrial waste management: Ogun links flooding and climate impacts to improper industrial waste disposal and open burning; Gujarat’s Pyramid Technoplast expands permission to recycle third-party contaminated industrial packaging. Food waste to gas: Vanguard Renewables agrees to acquire Generate Upcycle’s North American food-waste processing and renewable natural gas sites, boosting capacity ahead of a 1 Oct close.

Food Waste Collection Rollout: Redbridge Council says its weekly food waste service is expanding from 10,000 households to all homes from November/December, with caddies delivered and collection dates shared online. Waste-to-Energy Backlash: In Dhaka, residents near a proposed waste-to-energy incineration plant warn burning trash could worsen air and health impacts. Circular Economy Measurement: Taiwan’s “Beyond Circularity” framework is being pitched at Climate Week NYC, aiming to make circular performance more finance-ready using reuse and regenerative agriculture pilots. Scrap Market Pressure: UK scrap metals processor S Norton reported a £17m annual pre-tax loss, citing tougher trading conditions and higher compliance and disposal costs. London Heat Network Funding: The UK announced £90m for “green” heat networks, including a Thames-running project targeting 650,000 homes. Local Waste Rules in Delhi: NDMC’s new byelaws push four-way segregation, higher user charges, and steeper fines, while residents question service reliability and informal collector integration. Battery Safety Warning: Tasman District Council urged safer battery disposal after a lithium battery fire at a resource recovery centre. Illegal Dumping Crackdown: Louisville is stepping up enforcement at unstaffed recycling sites, impounding vehicles and issuing fines. Hazardous Waste Drop-Off: Reno is hosting an electronics and hazardous waste disposal event this weekend to prevent dangerous dumping. Idol Disposal Overhaul: Delhi set up 110 collection centres for damaged idols and 81 eco-friendly immersion ponds to reduce water pollution. Battery Recycling Deal: Nth Cycle signed a $1bn offtake with Glencore for minerals from used batteries, signaling continued investment in battery recycling supply chains.

Battery safety & recycling fires: South Bend warned residents after a lithium-ion battery improperly placed in a recycling truck sparked a fire, urging people to use approved battery drop-offs and never bin damaged cells. Fire prevention campaign: West Sussex launched “Stop the Spark” after 199 battery/electrical-related fires at a waste facility, telling residents “if it has a plug, battery or cable, don’t bin it.” Local waste collection shake-ups: Norfolk residents raised concerns over a new bi-weekly trash cart system with weekly recycling and organics; Liberty Hill requires residents to set up new trash service accounts before a provider switch. Recycling expansion pilot: Cardiff announced an eighth bin trial for soft plastics using red bags ahead of a wider April 2027 requirement. Policy push: CIWM called for a clear long-term strategy for England’s resources and waste sector beyond the 2018 plan. Circular economy business moves: Platinum Equity completed the $6.6B sale of Urbaser to Blackstone and EQT, keeping parts of the waste management business in Argentina. Rare earth & waste-adjacent security: A U.S.-Denmark-Greenland security agreement boosted Greenland-linked rare-earth investment interest.

Waste Crisis & Flood Risk: A new report warns Central Luzon and Metro Manila flooding is being worsened by land subsidence from decades of groundwater overuse, meaning storms hit sinking ground harder than sea-level rise alone. Appliance Recycling Bottleneck: Norfolk County Council says thousands of fridges/freezers are piling up after closures of specialized cooling-appliance sites and delays from producer compliance schemes, forcing scaled-back acceptance and storage of 2,000–3,000 units at a time. Coastal Cleanup Push: Philippines’ DENR reports ICC 2026 mobilized 103,000+ volunteers nationwide, clearing 466,000 kg+ of coastal waste, while DENR Caraga and partners collected 6 tons across 12 sites. Circular Packaging & Recycling Rules: Castle Point Council is changing recycling collections under “Simpler Recycling,” splitting paper/card into new blue sacks and expanding what goes in pink sacks. E-Waste & Recycling Health Impacts: Ghana’s informal scrapyards raise health concerns, with smoke exposure linked to anemia and hearing problems for children near recycling sites. Critical Minerals Recycling: The US and Italy signed an MoU to boost recycling and recovery of critical minerals, aiming to reduce reliance on newly mined supply. Community Recycling Incentives: Michigan retailers are urging an end to in-store bottle/can returns over hygiene and food-safety concerns, pushing for redemption-center or curbside models.

Coastal Cleanup Push: The Philippines’ International Coastal Cleanup 2026 mobilized 103,000+ volunteers across 369 coastal areas, pulling in 466,000+ kg of waste, while Metro Manila sites alone logged 36,897 volunteers and 168,395 kg collected. Electronics Recycling: Indiana’s West Central Solid Waste District will host a free electronics drop-off drive Oct. 3 (with a $20 TV fee), and Chicago’s 2nd Ward is running a paper shredding and e-recycling event Sept. 20 for secure disposal of documents and electronics. Deposit Return Tech: TOMRA launched a small-format reverse vending machine in the UK ahead of a 2027 deposit return scheme, aiming to make bottle-and-can returns faster for retailers and shoppers. Organics Diversion Deal: Vanguard Renewables agreed to acquire Generate Upcycle’s North American organics recycling operations, adding five anaerobic digesters in Ontario and New York and boosting renewable natural gas capacity. Battery & Landfill Safety Laws: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed measures expanding battery recycling requirements and adding protocols for elevated-temperature landfill events. Illegal Dumping Crackdown: Louisville is stepping up enforcement at unstaffed recycling centers after illegal dumping damaged vehicles and raised contamination risks. Local Reuse Wins: Herefordshire Reuse & Recycling Organisation hit 63+ tonnes reused/recycled in its first year, keeping household goods out of landfill.

PFAS & landfill fight: In Massachusetts, groups say Juniper Ridge’s proposed PFAS treatment move offsite would require trucking toxic leachate 20 miles, raising new public health concerns while an expansion permit is challenged in court. Local recycling pressure: North Somerset Council faces a 30% rent hike to keep its recycling depot running, while it also plans a new £56m waste depot and recycling centre. UK recycling performance: Wrexham Council rolls out changes to boost recycling toward Wales’ 70% target, including larger weighted sacks for paper and cardboard. Permits for composting questioned: India’s Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is accused of building a micro composting centre without required environmental consents, with the site in a residential area. World Cleanup Day action: UNAMA highlights plastic waste’s harm to water and land in Afghanistan, while Santa Barbara County reports 955 volunteers removing 5,041 pounds of litter. Circular economy wins: Australia’s Reviva Reuse Competition opens, rewarding people who repair, restore, repurpose or upcycle items to keep them out of landfill. Solar recycling policy: NSW launches consultation on Australia’s first mandatory solar panel recycling scheme, pushing manufacturers and importers to fund end-of-life collection and recycling. E-waste spotlight: A growing pile of electronic waste is flagged as devices get replaced more often, underscoring the need for better end-of-life handling.

Coastal Cleanup Push: Jamaica’s NSWMA and partners pulled in 107,607 pieces of marine litter across 19 sites with 6,000+ volunteers for International Coastal Cleanup Day, underscoring how storm debris can worsen coastal pollution. Waste Infrastructure Upgrade: Varanasi Municipal Corporation is building a modern scientific waste transfer station in Faridpur to cut open dumping, improve segregation, and reduce odour and pollution. Sanitation Governance: Ghana’s Parliament sanitation committee is urging MMDAs to enforce sanitation bylaws and strengthen government–private partnerships to improve waste collection, disposal, and recycling. World Cleanup Day Spotlight: UNAMA says environmental pollution in Afghanistan is worsening, with plastic waste contaminating water and land, calling for better prevention and public awareness. New Recycling/Disposal Capacity: Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) inaugurated a waste-to-energy and sanitary landfill project aimed at ending open-air disposal. Smart Recycling in Workplaces: Zong and ISPES launched PecoDrop smart waste stations to enable source-level segregation and rewards for employees. Upcycling Spotlight: Malaysia’s remadesia earned a Malaysia Book of Records nod for the “Largest Upcycled Tarpaulin Bag,” promoting circular economy education.

Circular Economy Finance: East African governments and businesses launched a regional Circular Economy Platform in Nairobi to coordinate circular economy policy and attract investment into waste management, recycling, and resource-efficient industries, as waste generation in the region climbs sharply and only a small share is recycled. Battery Fire Safety: UK fire services issued a warning after an e-bike battery charging sparked a house blaze, urging residents to use correct chargers, charge on safe surfaces, never leave batteries unattended, and dispose of old batteries via recycling points. Zimbabwe Waste-Collection Safety: A Harare journalist was killed after being struck by a Geo Pomona waste-management truck, as the company faces pressure to expand waste collection and landfill operations under government deadlines. Recycling Capacity Crunch (UK): Oxfordshire councils lifted a temporary ban on fridge and freezer collections after capacity issues tied to a recycling firm collapse left thousands of cooling appliances piling up. EV Waste Readiness (Australia): Experts say Australia’s battery recycling industry must prepare for an incoming wave of end-of-life EV batteries as EV sales surge. Community Recycling Policy (California): California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 955 to expand bottle-and-can return options and eliminate “dead zones,” aiming for full deposit return coverage. E-Waste/Plastics Education & Cleanup: Coastal and school-based cleanup and “trash to treasure” projects highlighted how communities are pushing practical waste sorting, recycling, and reduced plastic use. Robotic Bins Trial (Japan): Japan’s busiest station, Shinjuku, is testing mobile robotic rubbish bins to reduce sanitation workload and improve public disposal habits. Local Waste Infrastructure (Ghana/India/Caribbean): Updates ranged from Ghana’s sanitation and waste-management push to India’s circular economy and coastal cleanup efforts, plus Caribbean seed funding for waste-to-product and circular blue economy initiatives.

Waste Evacuation & Landfill Engineering (Ghana): President John Mahama ordered a 90-day cleanup of Agbogbloshie’s estimated one million tonnes of waste, with evacuation to the Adepa Engineered Landfill and plans to reclaim land for an industrial park and textile jobs—paired with stronger enforcement to stop illegal dumping from returning. Sanitation Enforcement (Ghana): Mahama also directed Accra’s assemblies to intensify sanitation enforcement around the reclaimed site, stressing that success means preventing re-dumping, not just removal. Waste Sorting Infrastructure (Qatar): Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality expanded cleanliness efforts with 42,600 blue recycling bins and 7,571 smart sensor bins, plus electronically tracked cleaning vehicles and ongoing public awareness to boost sorting at source. Recycling Policy Pushback (US): A conservative group urged major paper and packaging companies to stop lobbying against a Trump-backed push to count advanced recycling of plastic as recycling, accusing them of undermining recycling innovation. E-Waste & Reuse (India): A community “Resource Revival Drive” on Sept. 27 will collect textiles, electronics, books, plastics, and metals for responsible recycling/upcycling, while rejecting hazardous waste and heavily contaminated items. Recycling Tech Trial (Japan): JR East is testing mobile robot rubbish bins at Shinjuku Station to reduce manual bin emptying and see if commuters will use them. Landfill Options & Costs (Philippines): Cebu City is exploring a long-term Toledo landfill option after failed contractor bids and rising costs from hauling waste to a distant site. Air Pollution & Waste Link (India): Nagaland Pollution Control Board data shows Dimapur’s pollutant levels rose 25% from 2022 to 2025, with waste management mentioned alongside air quality concerns. Circular Economy & Policy (UK): England’s upcoming Deposit Return Scheme will include plastic bottles and metal cans, with councils warning it could affect recycling income.

Reuse & Recycling Wins: Wales’ Wrexham rolls out a 10-point recycling plan—bigger weighted recycling sacks, more food-waste containers, added kerbside materials (including batteries and Tetra Pak), cheaper bulky collections to cut fly-tipping, and more cameras. Community Reuse Milestone: The Big Den reuse shop in Ebbw Vale hit 23 tonnes of diverted items in three months, partnering with the local recycling centre to keep goods in circulation. Marine Pollution Focus: Bahrain reports 62,000kg of waste collected from its shores since 2018 as World Cleanup Day (Sept 20) spotlights “clean plates to clean cities.” Plastic Upcycling Research: SIU Carbondale researchers use engineered yeast to turn plastic and agricultural waste into protein-rich “microbites,” aimed at resource-limited settings. E-waste Crackdown: Malaysia police cripple an illegal e-waste operation in Senawang, seizing about 309 tonnes worth RM7.78m. Circular Economy Policy Push: Canada advances steps toward listing a Deep Geological Repository for used nuclear fuel as national-interest infrastructure. Local Waste Governance: Odisha’s pollution control board marks its 43rd foundation day with drone monitoring and new solid-waste guidance.

E-Waste Crackdown: Malaysia’s police raided an illegal e-waste collection and storage operation in Senawang, seizing about 309 tonnes of e-waste worth RM7.78 million and detaining 11 workers for investigation. Litter Before It Reaches Water: In Florida, Keep Pasco Beautiful’s Sept. 19 cleanup targets trash and fishing line before it flows into stormwater and waterways. Recycling Systems Lag Behind Packaging Change: A U.S. report warns that household packaging has shifted faster than recycling infrastructure, leaving more materials harder to process. EU Waste Shipment Rules: The European Commission opened a consultation on which non-OECD countries may be authorized to import EU non-hazardous waste after May 2027, with a list to be finalized after feedback closes Oct. 16. Circular Plastics in Automotive: Envalior and SECARA will test closed-loop PCR plastic pathways for vehicle parts to meet EU ELV recycled-content requirements. Local Waste Policy Update: Walsall (UK) approved separate weekly food-waste caddies from summer 2027, funded partly by a £1.844m grant. Recycling Tech Upgrade: Greyparrot launched live OEE tracking for MRFs/PRFs using continuous mass-balance data to better measure quality and performance.

Food Waste Prevention Week: Vermont’s DEC is kicking off Sept. 28–Oct. 4 with a “Scrap Food Waste Challenge” to help residents cut food waste and lower greenhouse gases. Illegal Dumping Crackdown: Mumbai’s BMC and police opened an FIR after a video showed dry waste being thrown into the Mogra nalla, with action against the contractor and waste centre operator. CBD Vending Limits: Zimbabwe’s government tightened vending rules, restricting CBD trading to 6am–6pm and residential vending to 6am–8pm. Mask Readiness: Wales outlined a plan to improve FFP3 mask fit-testing and stock readiness for NHS and care staff after the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Food Waste Recycling Results: Fenland District Council says it collected 44 tonnes of food waste in week one of its new weekly service, feeding anaerobic digestion. Upcycling Breakthrough: Researchers turned discarded fish scales into a biodegradable plastic-like film that breaks down in soil within eight weeks. Urban Waste Crisis: A new report highlights Johannesburg’s waste overload—unreliable collections, shrinking landfill space, and rising illegal dumping—mirroring wider African infrastructure gaps. Hazardous Waste Drop-Off: Langley Township announced a Household Hazardous Waste Plus Collection Event for Sept. 19–20 for safe disposal of items like chemicals and fire extinguishers.

Food Waste Prevention: Vermont’s DEC and Governor Phil Scott kick off Sept. 28–Oct. 4 as Food Waste Prevention Week, launching a Scrap Food Waste Challenge to help residents cut landfill-bound food and greenhouse gases. E-Waste & Health: Illinois researchers report high lead and metals in used disposable vape devices, warning of both health and environmental risks from improper disposal. E-Waste Surge Warning: A new study flags a coming “AI waste wave,” projecting millions of tons of e-waste from data-center and AI equipment retirements by 2030. Illegal Dumping Crackdown: Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) steps up enforcement at Ago Palace Way Market, sealing sites and arresting 11 people tied to illegal dumping and cart-pusher activity. User-Pay Push: Orillia, Canada, weighs a future user-pay system for garbage tags as its landfill nears capacity, alongside plans for transfer/export and organics management. Recycling Access Updates: Mecklenburg County expands curbside recycling to include clean plastic cups, fruit containers, yogurt cups, and paper cups. Circular Economy Policy: Moldova harmonizes extractive waste management rules with EU standards, including a public inventory of risky closed sites and reporting to the European Commission. Solar Recycling Delay: Australian solar panel recyclers warn a shelved $25m pilot could push firms into failure and increase landfill volumes.

Landfill fire response: Calgary’s ECCO Recycling blaze is “under control” but smoke could linger for weeks or even months as crews work deep inside the landfill. Local waste governance: Philadelphia City Council returns to debate a “Stop Trashing Our Air” bill that would restrict incineration by solid waste, recycling and composting providers. Recycling rules tightening: India’s Central Pollution Control Board proposes a formal system for multilayered plastic packaging, covering collection, segregation, recycling and disposal under EPR. Bin program rollout: Lethbridge County begins distributing new curbside blue bins with guidance for what goes in and what stays out. Public pressure on waste services: Flintshire residents say they were left without bin collections for months, raising calls for refunds and accountability. Municipal funding for waste: South Africa secured a $1bn loan to support metro trading services reforms, including solid waste management. Circular economy push: India is exploring wider use of steel recovered from ship recycling to boost domestic manufacturing and value from the ship-recycling hub. Battery recycling standards: China released draft national guidelines for power battery recycling, with public comments open until Oct. 15.

Battery & Recycling Policy: The U.S. House passed the BRACE Act to update lithium-ion battery recycling rules, pushing EPA to treat lithium-ion batteries as universal waste and cut permitting friction for recyclers. E-Waste Diversion: Prevail Bank collected nearly 20 tons of electronic waste via free community e-cycling events, partnering with a certified recycler to keep materials out of landfills. Local Recycling & Hazardous Waste Access: Riverside County announced a free household hazardous waste collection in Blythe on Nov. 21, accepting items like electronics and automotive fluids. Ship Recycling Circularity: India’s government discussed expanding use of steel from ship recycling across more sectors, aiming to boost value and strengthen the country’s ship recycling hub. Food Waste & Recycling Behavior: Wales’ Merthyr Tydfil council found dry recycling participation stays high, while food waste recycling lags due to hygiene concerns and practical barriers. Community Cleanups: Qatar and other groups marked World Cleanup Day 2026 with waste-sorting workshops and beach cleanups. Industrial Battery Recycling Expansion: Blue Whale Materials began commissioning a full lithium-ion battery processing line in Bartlesville, boosting domestic critical-minerals recovery capacity. Shipments & Waste Tech: CLIA reported measurable cruise emissions cuts and growing shore-power readiness, wastewater treatment, and fuel flexibility. Storm Drain Enforcement: Sylva warned businesses not to dump pollutants into storm drains, citing a paint-related incident that can end up in local waterways. Waste Tire Cleanup: Richland approved removal of a massive waste tire pile, funded by state accounts, with work due by June 30, 2027.

Landfill Methane Monitoring: Cleanaway Waste Management (ASX:CWY) is shifting landfill methane accounting from estimates to direct measurement, using drone-mounted laser sensors after a federal reporting change now allows measured data to replace default factors. Local Waste Services & Costs: A council report flags a £5.9m overspend for 2026/27, with waste services among the pressure points, including waste disposal contracts, recycling, and clinical waste collections. Trash Policy Politics: Philadelphia City Council returns from recess to debate a “Stop Trashing Our Air” bill that would restrict incineration of solid waste, recycling, and composting materials under certain conditions. Community Cleanups & Recycling Events: Tehama County schedules free tire collection and a separate community clean-up accepting e-waste and bulky items; Fort Wayne Zoo launches “Pick It Up for Penny” to keep litter out of landfills and protect wildlife. Circular Economy in Action: A Centurion eco-activist turns Hennops River polystyrene into a paint-like product to help fund further cleanups. Waste Governance: Bulawayo moves to comply with a government directive to engage Geo Pomona Waste Management to tackle refuse collection and landfill problems. Waste & Wildlife Rules: Fort Huachuca tightens trash and wildlife feeding rules, warning residents that unsecured garbage and pet food can draw bears into neighborhoods.