Battery Safety Partnership: The Battery Network teamed with the National Waste & Recycling Association/Foundation to expand battery safety education and improve responsible collection and recovery across the U.S. Plastic & Marine Waste Accountability: In Parañaque, Philippines, President Marcos inspected a “sea of trash” after flash floods as Oceana criticized waste-to-energy talk while pointing to ongoing single-use plastic production. Soft Plastics Reuse: An Edenton resident, Celeste Maus, is turning hard-to-recycle soft plastics into composite lumber and park benches, tackling microplastic concerns with community collection. UK Recycling Disruption: Gloucestershire’s Hempsted Household Recycling Centre will close for upgrades, including new electrical waste compactors, while Rutland County temporarily stops accepting general household waste due to heat and processing capacity pressures. Water Bills vs. Pollution: UK regulators allowed five water firms to raise bills to fund more spending, drawing backlash from leaders who say customers shouldn’t pay for failures. EU Packaging Rules: New EU packaging and waste regulations begin applying, with retailers warning of price impacts as recycling and reuse requirements tighten. Data on Recycling Gaps: New York’s DEC was found unable to reliably measure recycling amounts, with missing and inconsistent facility reporting limiting progress tracking. Circular Tech & Materials: Research highlights alkaline thermal treatment that could convert mixed plastic waste into hydrogen while retaining carbon, and IPL Schoeller launched a recycled-content polypropylene container line aimed at easing packaging approvals. Local Anti-Litter Push: Metro Manila lawmakers urged uniform anti-littering rules and “anti-garbage police” across interconnected cities to prevent blocked waterways and flooding. Battery Recycling Policy Moves: U.S. lawmakers advanced funding for statewide battery collection and recycling programs, signaling more structured end-of-life handling.