Change Cycle

With headlines claiming that only a small fraction of plastic ever gets recycled, it is natural to question: is recycling real, or is it just a persistent myth? In this episode, Christine Yeager breaks down the complex reality behind residential recycling data, waste characterization studies, and the critical distinction between collection rates and true recycling rates. From cardboard and aluminu...

Polystyrene often faces immense public scrutiny, but expanding polystyrene recycling requires building robust infrastructure rather than relying on empty slogans. In this episode, host Christine Yeager sits down with Justin Riney , Commercial Sustainability Manager for the Americas at INEOS Styrolution and Chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance , to discuss what it truly takes to shift percep...

Navigating modern packaging regulations demands a direct look at practical EPR policy realities. Host Christine Yeager cuts through public skepticism to unpack what is genuinely happening across courtrooms, state agencies, and material recovery facilities. She breaks down the latest legal challenges in Oregon and Colorado, explores Governor Newsom's recent California vetoes, and examines why sorti...

Extended Producer Responsibility is sweeping the nation, but packaging rules don't easily translate to used clothes. Host Christine Yeager sits down with Jessica Franken to unpack how modern Textile Recycling Policy collides with a hundred-year-old reuse industry. Jessica leads government affairs for SMART, representing the secondary materials businesses that divert billions of pounds from landfil...

True progress in waste reduction begins when we look beyond the bin and fully commit to sustainable materials management to bridge the systems gap between product design and regional capacity. In this episode, Christine Yeager sits down with Kathryn Walker , the Executive Director of the New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management based at the university level, to discuss how collab...

In this episode of Change Cycle, host Christine Yeager explores how breakthrough university research and student-led innovation are powering the circular economy. Many people assume academic projects stay trapped in labs, but young entrepreneurs are launching startups that win major federal awards and land commercial supply contracts. Christine breaks down the four primary funding models for acade...

Scaling mixed plastics recycling requires moving past lab experiments into viable commercial operations. In this conversation, host Christine Yeager sits down with Dr. Julie Curley , founder and CEO of EsterCycle , to discuss breaking down complex packaging materials into high-value chemical streams. They explore how low-energy chemical catalyst technology turns hard-to-recycle packaging waste int...

Navigating packaging compliance gets tricky when regulatory definitions don't match market realities. Circular economy strategist Christine Yeager tackles the complex role of Chemical Recycling in state Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks. She breaks down why operating capacity matters far more than announced facility projections. You'll learn how specific EPR statutes in California, Orego...

Scaling circular economy operations requires turning sustainability strategies into capital expenditures that businesses can actually execute. Host Christine Yeager connects with Brandon Lapsys , CEO of Viably , to unpack what it takes to drive real change in the waste and recycling industry. From investing in talent during economic uncertainty to navigating permitting delays, building sustainable...

Christine Yeager breaks down extended producer responsibility (EPR) funding models across Colorado, Oregon, and California. While producers pay for full recycling costs in Colorado, only two out of seven states with packaging EPR laws fully fund the system. Christine details the differences between net cost and incremental cost structures to clarify how states reimburse service providers and colle...

Host Christine Yeager connects with Phoebe Tan , Founder and COO of Taelor , to break down how AI and circular fashion are transforming apparel economics. Most rental and resale models fail because reverse logistics and cleaning costs destroy profitability. By leveraging AI styling and tracking garment lifecycle signals, Phoebe built a system where customers only buy what they love while generatin...

Navigating the evolving regulations of Extended Producer Responsibility shouldn't feel like a guessing game. Host Christine Yeager breaks down the hard numbers from Oregon's first six-month performance report and the massive, 350-page California program plan. We look at the actual cash flowing from producers to local infrastructure, alongside the major gap between accrued and invoiced payments. Yo...

Making certified compostable packaging work in real-world organic streams takes strategic coordination across the entire circular economy supply chain. Host Christine Yeager connects with Meghan Ibach , Product and Zero Waste Specialist at Eco-Products , to examine how design decisions directly impact downstream composting operations. Meghan sits at the exact point where certified compostable pack...

Compost is heavy. So is the impact of food waste rotting in a landfill. Both are worth carrying. In this episode of Change Cycle, Christine Yeager starts with two cubic yards of finished compost dumped in her Colorado backyard and turns it into a field guide for the circular economy. The same dynamics that played out on her native grass and in her raised bed are playing out in organics policy, cit...

Are we finally closing the loop on waste? In this mid-year round-up, Christine Yeager dives deep into the essential building blocks of a sustainable future. From the mechanics of Deposit Return Schemes and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to the critical need for robust collection infrastructure, she breaks down what it takes to build a truly effective circular economy. Join us as we explore...

Pottery is one of our oldest art forms, yet for any beginner, it remains one of the most humbling experiences imaginable. As I’ve spent the last year oscillating between success and the occasional "flumped" clay creation, I’ve realized that mastering the pottery wheel holds a surprising lesson for the future of sustainability. The path to a true circular economy—specifically through the lens of Ex...

How do you create lasting change in sustainability when progress feels slow? In this episode, Kate Bailey —one of the key advocates behind Colorado’s landmark packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law—shares hard-earned lessons on advancing the circular economy, influencing public policy, and staying motivated through long-term environmental challenges. From shifting strategies after se...

Has the momentum behind Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation slowed down? In this latest Policy Round Up, Christine Yeager returns to Change Cycle to break down the biggest developments from the recent legislative session and what they mean for producers navigating the evolving circular economy landscape. While six states introduced EPR legislation, none of the bills crossed the fini...

Sustainable innovation often thrives in the "friction zones" that major brands ignore, proving that circular economy models can be built through grit rather than institutional backing. Guest Vale Siegrist , founder of Circular Mom Club , shares her journey of building a baby clothing rental service while balancing a full-time tech career and motherhood.  Born from the need for better options...

With the May 31 deadline fast approaching, EPR Reporting is no longer something producers can afford to delay—or misunderstand. In a recent episode of Change Cycle, Christine Yeager breaks down the rapidly evolving world of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), where shifting regulations, state-by-state nuances, and incomplete guidance are creating a perfect storm of confusion. From Oregon, Cali...

What does it really take to disrupt a billion-dollar industry built on convenience—and plastic? In this behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Cambio Roasters podcast interview, Kevin Hartley shares how a single idea—replacing plastic K-Cups with infinitely recyclable aluminum—turned into one of the fastest-growing coffee brands in the U.S. But this isn’t just a story about packaging. It’s about l...

After a brief two-week pause due to spring break, work travel, and illness, Christine Yeager returns to the Change Cycle Podcast with a packed update on the rapidly evolving world of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and recycling policy. In this episode, Christine previews an exciting upcoming guest lineup featuring leaders from the Association of Plastics Recyclers, innovators in recyclable...

What happens when companies take sustainability seriously—without waiting for regulations to force their hand? In this conversation, host Christine Yeager and Christina Ross from Credo Beauty explore the carbon accounting challenges facing the beauty industry, sharing the company's experience now in its third year of emissions reporting—an effort many brands still avoid. They discuss the realities...

Today, Christine Yeager dives deep into one of the most transformative forces in the recycling industry: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Christine unpacks how EPR laws across the United States are reshaping packaging design, recycling infrastructure, and brand strategy — turning regulatory pressure into powerful market signals. From rising EPR fees on flexible films like plastic mailers an...

We may not think much about our pets' carbon footprint because they are just small and innocent creatures, but they also have a significant collective impact on the health of the planet. Christine Yeager sheds light on how the entire pet industry can make better choices to build a more sustainable future with Allison Reser Hamburger , Director of Sustainability & Innovation at the Pet Sustaina...