Medical Emergency: Venezuela’s earthquake death toll has reached at least 2,295, with doctors warning a widening crisis is looming as displaced people face untreated injuries, infections, and collapsing healthcare capacity. Critical Minerals & Recycling: India’s NITI Aayog is drafting policy to boost critical mineral extraction, with recycling flagged as a key pillar—mapping how to recover materials from battery waste, e-waste, and mining waste. Solid Waste Contracting: FCC Environmental Services won a 10-year solid waste collection contract for New Smyrna Beach, Florida, starting Oct. 1, 2026, covering residential trash/yard waste and tailored commercial collection. Service Recovery: Priority Waste CEO Aaron Johnson released a 30-day progress report on Metro Detroit service recovery, aiming to restore reliable trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup. Corporate Waste Infrastructure: Arcwood Environmental opened a new Indianapolis headquarters, reinforcing its hazardous waste and integrated environmental services footprint. Fly-Tipping Crackdown: Brussels doubled fines for fly-tipping from Aug. 1, raising penalties and expanding free bulky waste collection options. Battery Recycling Push: Call2Recycle Canada launched battery-powered collection and recycling products in Québec under its Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program. Local Collection Costs: Martin County, Florida residents face nearly $19 higher trash collection tax bills as a Waste Management contract continues. Illegal Textile Waste: OLAF and Turkish authorities seized mislabelled textile waste shipments tied to an illegal scheme, including nearly 2,100 tonnes found in a warehouse.