AGP Executive Report

Scrap & landfill fire response: Essex crews battled a blaze at a scrap processing plant in Tilbury involving about 4,000 tonnes of scrap, with smoke warnings and road closures as investigators look for a cause. Wildfire risk from waste sites: In Oregon, a landfill fire sparked a grass fire that burned roughly 25 acres and temporarily evacuated two homes, showing how waste-area embers can spread fast. Cardboard recycling limits: UK residents are stuck with mountains of cardboard after moves because many councils won’t collect it unless it fits bin rules, highlighting gaps in how excess recycling is handled. Packaging circularity push: The UK Packaging Pact named chairs for five industry expert groups, including Tesco on reuse/refill and SUEZ on circular infrastructure investment. Local recycling funding: Otsego County voters backed renewals for a recycling drop-off program, plus library and parks funding. Waste governance & services: Karachi officials reviewed infrastructure, sewage, traffic, and waste management, calling for joint, time-bound plans rather than temporary campaigns. Public health enforcement: Dhaka’s DNCC said it will fine buildings via mobile courts if dengue larvae are found and will also target illegal dumping. Upcycling culture: Ghana’s cashew apples are being reframed as “waste to value,” with researchers pushing systems to collect and process the fruit before it spoils.

Food Waste & Recycling Rules: Coventry City Council is rolling out weekly food waste collections from Sept. 7 under the Simpler Recycling scheme, with lockable bins/caddies and guidance on what goes in (no oils/fats or non-food items). Local Recycling Updates: Richmond’s Central Virginia Waste Management Authority now accepts pizza boxes and paper cups (with liner/grease rules), expanding what residents can recycle. Waste System Accountability: Chümoukedima officials stressed planning, transparency and proper execution for FC-XVI tied grants for water, sanitation and solid waste. Community Recycling Events: Tennessee’s Recycle Roundup II returns Sept. 12, and Charleston’s Resident Dumpster Days run Sept. 4–5 for eligible items. Waste & Sanitation Enforcement: LAWMA in Lagos is starting a participatory process to reform the private-sector waste collection sector, while Bor commissioner Samuel Ateny Pech warned action over sanitation and waste at Lew-dier Fish Market. Contamination & Cleanup: Coimbatore faces major solid-waste gaps flagged by CPCB, and Cebu City expects to clear remaining SRP trash in 10–15 days after a long temporary transfer-station phase. Textile Circularity: H&M launched denim made with 30% recycled textile waste fibres, pushing circular fashion forward.

Waste Policy & Local Recycling: Wiltshire Council is defending its Royal Wootton Bassett recycling centre booking pilot, saying same-day slots will stay available while the council tests whether reservations reduce queues and improve traffic and safety. Community Pushback: Residents in the same area are raising concerns about a new recycling centre’s traffic, environmental impact, scale, and cost to taxpayers. Fire & Facility Safety: Sterling’s Self Help Enterprises recycling building was hit by a major fire after suspected cardboard compactor issues; firefighters from multiple towns responded and one firefighter was treated for dehydration/overheating. Public Input on Waste Planning: Jasper, Alabama opened a public comment period for its Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan 2026–2036, covering landfill management, collection, recycling, composting, and dump abatement. E-Waste Crackdown: Malaysia’s e-waste import ban is being tested by falsified shipping documents, with authorities reporting hundreds of containers screened and many already sent back after being found to contain burned e-waste. Funding Waste via Policy: Tamil Nadu proposed an environmental and social welfare cess on liquor sales to fund recycling and safe disposal of bottles and containers, plus de-addiction programs. Illegal Dumping Enforcement: Yuma County expanded cleanup and enforcement against illegal dumping, backed by grants and strict penalties for offenders.

Household Waste Enforcement: A Warrington resident was fined £2,220 after fly-tipped household waste was traced to his home, with the council urging residents to use authorised disposal and respond to investigations. Landfill Operations: Mesa County showed off a new 120,000-pound trash compactor at its landfill, built to process construction debris, household waste and biosolids more efficiently. Recycling Rules in the UK: Somerset Council apologised for missed recycling collections and asked residents to leave bins out for a catch-up pickup. Recycling Contamination Warnings: A UK binman told residents not to put plastic hangers in recycling, warning they belong in general waste instead. Recycling Service Changes: Basingstoke residents face bin-collection schedule changes, including fortnightly grey bin collections from October, while keeping weekly food-waste caddies. E-waste/Fire Safety: Nuneaton’s recycling centre fire prompted urgent reminders to dispose of batteries and electronics responsibly, as lithium-ion battery fires keep rising. EPR Expansion: Alberta’s EPR Phase 2 will bring free curbside recycling to more communities starting Oct. 1. Compostable Coffee Pods: A guide breaks down what “compostable” really means for coffee pods and why local composting conditions matter. Corporate Waste & Recycling: Republic Services raised 2026 guidance after strong Q2 results, citing pricing and improving recycling markets. EVs for Waste Fleets: Malaysia’s Alam Flora plans to expand electric vehicles and equipment, starting with electric motorcycles and three-wheelers after proof-of-concept testing. Waste Governance & Data: Abu Dhabi’s EAD and DMT launched a new phase of clean-up initiatives using citizen-science style data to target common waste types on land and at sea.

Waste-to-Energy Push: Anchorage is moving toward a potential waste-to-energy plant that would burn trash to generate power, aiming to reshape how the city handles solid waste and energy supply. Hazardous Waste Oversight: Alaska became the 49th state to run its own hazardous waste program, shifting regulation to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Recycling & Fire Risk: A compost blaze at Appleton Contracts’ waste yard in Tolleshunt Major was contained quickly; officials say it likely started in machinery and spread to wood and compost. Local Rates & Services: Columbia council approved multiple utility rate changes, including solid waste and recycling updates, with some items deferred to later votes. Illegal Dumping Culture: A Cape Town “masked superhero” is using community cleanups to fight illegal dumping that costs taxpayers about R350m a year. Battery Waste Controls: The U.S. is tightening exports by banning lithium-ion battery and tungsten waste shipments, pushing more material handling domestically. Hazardous Waste Violations: A Minnesota waste company was fined $47K for improperly storing hazardous and infectious waste shipments without required permits. Soft Plastics Recycling Trial: Australia’s KitKat trial used recycled polypropylene made from soft-plastics pyrolysis oil, producing ISCC-certified wrappers for a limited run. Composting in Practice: Spokane suspended garbage pickup in evacuation zones due to fires, offering alternatives like extra bag pickup and using green bins for unpackaged food.

Waste Collection Disruption: Oxfordshire councils restrict fridge/freezer drop-offs at household recycling centres due to a UK-wide processing bottleneck, urging residents to delay unless urgent. Public Health & Illegal Dumping: Cordova (Cebu) officials cleared medical waste illegally dumped on a vacant lot, including syringes and IV tubing, and warned of criminal charges. Recycling Safety Rules: UK waste crews warn households not to put vapes and batteries in recycling bins, citing bin-lorry and recycling-centre fire risks. Circular Packaging Tech: Coca-Cola, Vetropack and Myneral Labs pilot digital traceability for reusable glass bottles using AI-readable Data Matrix codes. Community Waste Pressure: Newport Riverfront bins overflowed during peak events, sparking criticism over cleanliness and daily emptying. Infrastructure & Planning: Swakopmund begins assessment for a new engineered landfill after the current site nears capacity in two years. Industry Platform: Informa’s Waste Group expands its waste and recycling media/events ecosystem to track EPR, circular mandates and new tech.

Citizen Science for Plastic Tracking: Bohol, Philippines is rolling out a UP Marine Science Institute app that lets residents submit geotagged photos of plastic waste to guide local planning, after projections show most plastic waste is still mismanaged. Food Waste Diversion Push: Herefordshire, UK approved a 2027 “Simpler Recycling” plan with kitchen caddies, compostable liners, and outdoor food bins, aiming to divert about 6,500 tonnes of food waste yearly into energy and bio-fertiliser. FOGO Bin Rules Tighten: Western Australia updated guidance so items like poo bags, tea bags, paper towels, and pizza boxes can’t go in FOGO, to keep organics streams “pure” and reduce contamination. Recycling Law Fight: A Colorado trade group is asking a federal judge to block enforcement of a new state recycling law, calling it unconstitutional. Plastic-to-Fuel Milestone: South Korea shipped its first batch of naphtha-grade regenerated oil made from waste plastic, signaling a move beyond basic recycling. Battery Fire Warning: Victoria, Texas reminded residents not to toss lithium-ion batteries in household trash due to fire risk.

Sewage Smell Fallout: Residents in March, Cambridgeshire say a nearby water recycling centre is blighting the town with a 24/7 “foul stench,” tied to heavy tanker deliveries of sewage cake—raising fresh questions about local planning and nuisance controls. Nuclear Waste Politics: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and DOE officials tout nuclear growth in Knoxville, even as the state’s nonbinding plan to accept nuclear waste from across the country keeps waste-safety concerns in the spotlight. Litter Cleanup Results: Anderson County, Tennessee released May–June litter and recycling totals after volunteers collected thousands of pounds and cleared dozens of illegal dump sites. E-waste Crackdown: Malaysia’s GOF seized RM9.39m of illegal e-waste in Ipoh raids and arrested 14 people, alleging unapproved processing under the guise of recycling. Illegal Landfill Operator Review: Cebu City ordered a legal review of Prime Integrated Waste Solutions after reports it refused city garbage while accepting private hauler waste, potentially risking permit action. Food Waste to Cut Methane: Summit County highlights landfill space pressure and offers free drop-off and curbside food-waste collection feeding an anaerobic digester. Recycling Market Tech: WasteTrade launched a rebuilt platform using Digital Product Passports to improve traceability and automate EU DIWASS submissions. Smart Packaging Pilot: Aldi and Arla trial “smart” milk bottle tags to track whether bottles reach recycling facilities, aiming to tighten recycling data. Beach Plastic Recovery: Weymouth & Portland’s marine litter project reports major beach clean wins and secured funding for its first dedicated van. Community Waste Rules: Thiruvananthapuram airport area in India set up a 24/7 squad to prevent inorganic dumping near the airport and expand household waste sorting.

Household Recycling Access: Wiltshire’s recycling-centre booking trial is under fire after a former councillor warned it could reduce flexibility and push people toward fly-tipping. Local Recycling Operations: Swindon shared how its Household Waste and Recycling Centre sorts and compresses materials, stressing that “the best equipment is only as good as what goes in the bin.” Plastic to Landfill Pressure: Australia’s recycling body ACOR says over 1M tonnes of plastic packaging still lands in landfill each year, with major recycling capacity sitting underused while promised packaging reforms stall. EPR & Hazardous Waste Systems: Vermont’s Reverse Logistics Group won a contract to support manufacturers under the state’s Household Hazardous Product Stewardship Program, helping implement end-of-life responsibilities. EV Battery Recycling Accountability: DOJ settlement with Ascend Elements requires $7.5M after inflated reimbursement claims tied to an EV battery recycling plant in Hopkinsville. Ocean-Bound Plastic Recovery: Positive Design partnered with CleanHub to fund verified recovery of 25,000kg of ocean-bound plastic across Southeast Asia. Community Recycling Funding: Arizona reopened a $1M recycling grant program for businesses, schools, nonprofits, and local governments. Waste Safety Reminder: Kern County highlighted free household hazardous waste drop-off to keep dangerous items out of garbage trucks and landfills. Nuclear Waste Education Facility: Canada’s NWMO released final designs for a $50M “Centre of Expertise” in Ignace, aimed at jobs and public learning ahead of a deep geological repository.

Solid Waste Enforcement: India’s Supreme Court set principles for environmental compensation under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, pushing the Centre to issue detailed guidance for how penalties are imposed and collected. NGT Accountability: India’s National Green Tribunal ordered Uttar Pradesh to recover Rs 10 crore from a Meerut developer over sewage overflow and failed solid waste steps, including questions about whether diversion and treatment capacity were adequate. Local SWM Rollout: Dimapur reviewed implementation of SWM Rules, 2026, focusing on segregation, collection, transport, processing, and scientific disposal through a district special cell and stronger monitoring. Recycling Access: Utah’s Summit County added four 24/7 drop-off sites for residential glass and mixed recyclables to close convenience gaps. Deposit Return Push: Portugal’s Volta deposit scheme becomes mandatory for bottles and cans sold from Aug. 10, aiming for 90% collection by 2029. Waste-to-Energy Revival: Kathmandu’s KMC and AEPC signed an MoU to restore the long-idle Teku waste-to-energy plant as a sustainable waste management model. EPR Support: Vermont’s Reverse Logistics Group won a contract to help manufacturers meet Vermont’s Household Hazardous Product Stewardship Program under EPR rules. Circular Economy in Wastewater: A new ASCE book spotlights how circular economy approaches can be applied to wastewater management and treatment.

Food-waste recycling rollout: Bradford residents will start getting weekly food waste bins, caddies, and liners under “Simpler Recycling,” with food scraps processed via anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and fertiliser. Local recycling operations praised: Flintshire’s household recycling centres are drawing strong public praise, with residents highlighting helpful staff and well-run sites. Solid waste policy in motion: Lowell’s planning commission denied a recycling-center request tied to prior litigation, while Waste Management is now proposing a new enclosed solid waste handling facility in Lowell’s Ayer’s City Industrial Park. Recycling safety incident: A fire at Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park damaged only separated recyclable materials; the cause is under investigation. Illegal dumping and landfill fires: Dagestan residents report ongoing illegal dumps after a fire spread to a wheat field, and Savusavu communities in Fiji are calling for long-term fixes after repeated landfill fires. Wildfire disruption with waste angle: In Spokane, wildfires destroyed hundreds of buildings and left residents dealing with charred debris, including melted recycling bins, as evacuations continue. Circular economy for dairy waste: A UK project is turning salty whey from cheese into bioethanol, aiming to cut difficult dairy waste disposal.

Port Sanitation Crackdown: The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs at Subic Bay pulled four more overstaying refrigerated containers for condemnation and disposal, bringing the total to 25, after foul odors and leachate pollution concerns. Event Waste Pressure: Malaysia’s Kuala Terengganu City Council spent RM40,000 cleaning up about 130 tonnes of solid waste after a 100,000+ attendance event, and says it may require waste plans from large organisers. Community Cleanups: Haiti’s Jacmel kicked off a market cleanup day with multiple agencies to improve hygiene and protect public health. Plastic-for-Trees Swap: Varendra University in Bangladesh ran “Trees in Exchange for Plastic,” trading used plastic for saplings to cut pollution. Refrigerant Compliance Upgrade: Bahrain’s Supreme Council for the Environment launched a faster digital registration service for large cooling and air-conditioning units, cutting processing from 20 days to five while supporting Montreal Protocol goals. Recycling & Reuse in Practice: A U.S. nonprofit Good News Project finished a loading dock renovation and runs health equipment lending plus an electronics recycling program. Battery Recycling Accountability: Ascend Elements agreed to pay nearly $7.5M over inflated DOE reimbursement claims tied to a Kentucky battery recycling plant. Packaging Traceability Pilot: Aldi UK and Arla trialled UV-tagged milk bottle labels with Polytag to track packaging through recycling and improve recycling-rate insights. Fly-Tipping Enforcement: UK councils reported ongoing action against illegal dumping, including fixed penalties in Bury for littering and fly-tipping.

Waste Policy & Services: Saskatoon is weighing a shift to a utility-funded model for multi-unit garbage service, aiming for a more transparent, pay-for-use system. Municipal Enforcement: Lagos’ LAWMA sealed multiple markets and shops along major corridors for illegal dumping, while Mumbai’s BMC launched a CCTV-backed cleanliness drive to eliminate repeat dumping hotspots. Recycling Access & Choice: Dubbo Regional Council rolled out “MyDRC Waste Vouchers,” replacing older bulky and tipping vouchers with a more flexible system for residents. Circular Economy & Plastics: Bangladesh is pushing a circular economy approach, including a plastic-to-textile pathway, to meet EU circularity expectations. Community Cleanups: Ghana’s National Youth Authority kicked off Youth Month with sanitation cleanups in Wa and Tamale. Hazardous Waste Remediation: Nigeria’s Ogun state began evacuating illegally dumped hazardous slag tied to lead-acid battery recycling sites after contamination concerns. Low-Carbon Materials: Auckland’s Atlas Concrete highlighted low-carbon building methods using recycled inputs and lower-emission mixes for a new headquarters.

Sanitation Crackdown in Accra: The Accra Metropolitan Assembly fined Rawlings Park food vendors GH¢1,000 each for ignoring National Sanitation Day directives, pushing stricter compliance to cut indiscriminate waste. Public Health Warning from Tema New Town: President Mahama reacted to a viral video showing fish drying amid refuse heaps, urging citizens to stop dumping and to support sanitation efforts. Waste Collection Disruption in India: Dimapur’s garbage collection suspension left Aoyimti and nearby colonies managing trash themselves, with some residents burning non-recyclables. Plastic-to-Value in Zimbabwe: A Harare entrepreneur turned discarded plastic into a thriving ornamental plant business, showing how local recycling can create jobs and cleaner streets. Lagos Enforcement on Illegal Dumping: LAWMA sealed shops along Tejuosho-Ojuelegba and Yaba-Tejuosho corridors over repeated refuse dumping on road medians, citing textile offcuts and illegal cart hauling. Recycling Push in Mumbai: BMC launched a citywide cleanliness drive after Bombay High Court directions, using CCTV at garbage hotspots and targeting “garbage vulnerable points.” Circular Economy in Action (India): Tiruchi Corporation diverted non-recyclable single-use plastics to cement kilns as refuse-derived fuel, reporting thousands of tonnes redirected since 2024. Hazardous Waste Import Ban (Cambodia): Cambodia’s Environment Ministry ordered local enforcement against importing used electronics mixed with e-waste, warning of risks from hazardous materials. Fly-Tipping Deterrence (UK): Swindon Borough Council proposed raising maximum fly-tipping fines to £1,000 as enforcement ramps up. Food Waste Planning (Iowa): Iowa DNR is finalizing an organic waste plan focused on food waste prevention and composting/anaerobic digestion to reduce landfill disposal. Recycling Capacity Stress (UK): Dudley Council said fridges and freezers won’t be accepted due to national storage and treatment capacity shortages. Major Recycling Fire (UK): Firefighters tackled a large blaze at a Barrow recycling site, with reports of cardboard and recycling materials involved.

Local Waste Policy: Newport City Council refused to review its controversial three-weekly residual bin collection plan despite complaints about fly-tipping and overflowing bins. Municipal Contract Handover: Calderdale’s new Calderdale Norse partnership starts Aug. 1, taking over household waste, recycling collections, and five household waste recycling centres. Waste Infrastructure & Fires: Lagos Waste Management Authority reopened and rehabilitated an access road inside Olusosun Landfill after a Sunday PUNCH investigation highlighted deteriorating infrastructure and truck queues; in Indiana, firefighters battled a blaze at the INSERV solid waste processing facility, with cause under investigation. Recycling Performance: Miami-Dade reported its lowest recycling contamination rate in years at 36.5%, driven by education, expanded options, and enforcement. Plastics & Marine Pollution: Researchers found microplastics in snails and mussels near deep-sea hydrothermal vents, underscoring how far plastic pollution travels. Plastic Reduction Campaigns: GIZ Pacific wrapped up its CleanSeas project in Pacific Island countries, urging daily plastic-cutting and workplace recycling. E-Waste Governance: A coalition challenged Subic Bay’s plan to allow incoming US e-waste shipments, arguing SBMA lacks authority under the Basel Convention. Food Waste Rules: UK households received bin warnings tied to new food waste collection reforms aimed at cutting landfill use. Community Recycling Access: Fiji’s Return & Earn opened a new Nakasi collection centre, paying residents for eligible bottles and cans.

E-Waste Fight at Subic Bay: A coalition challenged Subic Bay Freeport’s move to let incoming US e-waste shipments enter, arguing SBMA has no say under the Basel Convention and that Customs and DENR-EMB should decide. Household Recycling Upgrade: Cambridgeshire approved a £4.68m expansion for a March household recycling centre, adding safer access, parking, and a reuse area while keeping the current site running. Local Sanitation Enforcement: Chandigarh’s mayor warned municipal sanitation staff could face action if found working at VIP residences, after deployment records showed gaps. Flood Debris Relief: Emmet County extended its Flood Debris Cleanup Voucher Program to cover April and June 2026 flooding, with vouchers valid through Oct. 17. Battery Fire Prevention: Regional District of Okanagan–Similkameen urged residents to stop dumping lithium-ion batteries and use free drop-offs to reduce landfill fires. Circular Economy Recognition: Ireland’s Repak Resource Awards opened for entries, spotlighting waste prevention, recycling, reuse, and packaging innovation.