Trash Talk with Trista

In this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista talks with Rebecca Sansone, owner of The Mustache Cat, a Saint Paul-based home goods shop specializing in curated vintage pieces and funky upcycled decor. They discuss how choosing secondhand and well-made items can reduce demand for new products while creating opportunities for creativity, community and a more sustainable approach to what we bring...

For more than 20 years, Chowgirls Catering has been proving that sustainability and business success can go hand in hand. From piloting food scrap recycling to swapping to recyclable to-go containers, co-founders Heidi Andermack and Amy Brown have incorporated environmental responsibility into their business model. In this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Heidi shares the values that shaped Chow...

You're sure to crack a smile or let out a laugh in this week’s Trash Talk with Trista episode featuring Sheletta Brundidge, founder of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh. Trista and Sheletta chat about the power of humor and storytelling. These tools, especially when paired together, can make even the most complex topics, like waste and recycling, easier to understand.   Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling &a...

On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Sigurd Scheurle, a retired planning director at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to talk about the history of waste management in Minnesota and what we’ve learned along the way. From the Waste Management Act and the environmental impacts of landfilling to the role of waste-to-energy, Sigurd shares how Minnesota’s past can help...

Once you finish your dill pickle lemonade, where do you put your cup? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Cory Franzmeier from the Minnesota State Fair and Megan Dobratz from Native Sustainability to discuss the management of trash, recycling and organics at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.   Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Tri...

Andy Weins rejects the idea of "junk" - that the things we throw away have no value. His company used to be called Camo Crew Junk Removal, until he realized how much of what they hauled was valuable material that could be used again. He rebranded it as Camo Crew Responsible Removal. In 2025, they recovered 82% of materials that many companies would send straight to a landfill.  In this episode of...

Did you know that Germany is considered one of the world’s leaders in waste reduction and recycling? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with R&E’s German interns, Sophia Fiswick and Lasse Radke, to discuss how Germany approaches waste management, the cultural differences surrounding recycling and what the U.S. can learn from waste systems around the world.  Hosted by R...

What if the future of waste management isn’t just about recycling more, it’s about rethinking everything we throw away? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Jennefer Klennert of HDR to explore the trends shaping the future of the waste industry, from smarter technology and safer facilities to reuse, waste-to-energy and the policies driving innovation. Together, they dis...

Did you know that a single waste-related bill at the Capitol can impact everything from worker safety to how communities manage trash for decades? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Minnesota State Representative Wayne Johnson to discuss the waste and recycling legislation introduced during the 2026 Minnesota legislative session, what it takes to move policy forward a...

Did you know that Ramsey and Washington counties manage trash differently than most counties in Minnesota? On the very first episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Karla Bigham, Washington County Commissioner and R&E Board member, to discuss how Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy was formed, what the organization has accomplished over the past 10 years and how the two c...