Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We all know tonnes of plastic are exported, but how much actually leaves our shores, and where does it end up? Talking Rubbish dives into the murky world of plastic exports, uncovering why China shut its doors, the ripple effects on global markets, and which countries stepped in to take its place. Plus, we break down the process of recycling batteries, ask whether peach pads are Rubbish or Not (do...

In October 2024, headlines exploded with 3 million articles urging us to ditch our black plastic utensils. But should you really? In this episode, we uncover the surprising science behind the sensationalism, revealing why the full story might prompt you to keep that trusty plastic spatula a bit longer. We also dive into battery sorting, debate whether the revamped Pringles tube is rubbish or not,...

This week, James and Robbie welcome Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, a groundbreaking company revolutionising plastic recycling with UV watermark technology. Trusted by major retailers like Aldi, Co-op, Ocado, and M&S, Polytag is set to cover 50% of UK domestic household recycling, driving significant change in the way we manage waste. Alice shares the story behind Polytag’s journey, explains th...

Did you know the packaging you buy today might be covered in invisible barcodes? These barcodes help recyclers to work out what type of plastic a yoghurt pot might be made of, or whether an empty bottle was full of drink or detergent. For this reason they are cited as the future of our packaging! How do they work and where might we find them? Plus, we explore battery collections, are train tickets...

Deposit Return Schemes are officially on the horizon! With the Government having recently passed legislation, there’s no better time to dive into the details. How exactly do these schemes work? Will we all really be returning our drinks bottles and cans to stores? And why might this be a challenge for a country already equipped with kerbside recycling? Plus, we explore how electricals are recycled...

Ho Ho Ho, and merry Christmas to all our listeners! In this jam-packed Christmas special we deep dive into tubs of chocolate (we feel this might be both metaphorical and literal this week). Why do the tubs and tins need to be made with brand new materials? What are we meant to do with chocolate wrappers? Also, we explore the recyclability of Christmas trees (and yes, we will talk about artificial...

James has recently (and we mean very recently - like a week ago), become a father! This led him to think about the sustainability of having a baby and what steps he would put in place as a new dad to ensure his child grows up with a strong sustainability education. Plus, in this baby special, we explore how nappies are recycled, are wet wipes rubbish or not, and James has a question for Robbie. Jo...

This week, James and Robbie are joined by Pierre Paslier, co-founder of Notpla, a groundbreaking company turning seaweed into sustainable alternatives to plastic. After winning the prestigious Earthshot Prize in 2022, Notpla has been making waves in the fight against plastic pollution. In this episode, Pierre shares the fascinating journey from experimenting with caviar-inspired ideas in a kitchen...

Compostable plastic has grown significantly in the past few years as producers of packaging attempt to move away from conventional plastics. Why is this material so hard to collect and recycle? Plus, we explore how electrical items are collected, are rubber bands rubbish or not, and we have a question about what to do with beer bottle lids. Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delv...

It's that time of year again, Black Friday. Where did this manic sales season come from and how sustainable is it? In this episode, we discuss the growth of Black Friday and what the rise in online deliveries might be doing to our carbon emissions. Plus, we explore the history of pallets, are duvets and pillows rubbish or not, and we have a question about whether we ruined our recycling by tu...

Disposable vapes are set to be banned by June 2025, but with an estimated 150 million still in circulation until then, what happens to these devices once they’re tossed in the bin? In this episode, we dive into the life cycle of a disposable vape and the environmental impact of improper disposal. Plus, we explain what you should do with waste wood, are books rubbish or not, and we have a question...

Recent reports suggest that it is better to landfill our waste, rather than sending it for incineration. Can this possibly be true? In this episode, we dive into the nuances behind these reports, examining some key flaws in both the data and assumptions. Plus, we explore how flexible plastic could replace wood, whether credit cards can be recycled, and we have a question about what to do with the...

James and Robbie spend some time with Alex Robinson, CEO at Hubbub, a creative charity that inspires action that’s good for the environment, and for everyone. Hubbub's fun and innovative campaigns support individuals, households and communities to make a difference, by helping everyone get involved and building mainstream support for action on climate. Hubbub was named 'Charity of the Ye...

Welcome, ghouls and goblins, to a spooky special of Talking Rubbish! This week, we explore the truly terrifying statistics behind the Halloween pumpkin. Plus, we will unravel the alchemy of chemical recycling, discuss what happens to that Halloween costume after the party and reveal some sustainable decoration ideas.   Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they treat you to a hauntingly...

Supermarkets are now collecting flexible plastic packaging, asking us to bag it up and return it. But with reports suggesting much of it ends up being burned, is our recycling effort going to waste? In this episode, we dive into why it's still worth recycling flexible plastic. Plus, we explore how plastic is mechanically recycled, whether cables can be recycled, and we have a question about g...

Over the past couple of years, the UK government has banned certain plastics, from straws to balloon sticks. Find out the impact these bans can have and how they drive behaviour change. Plus, how are plastics sorted, can plastic toothbrushes be recycled, and why do some councils recommend lining food waste caddies with regular carrier bags? Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delv...

It’s a statistic reported in lots of places: each week we supposedly eat a credit card’s worth of microplastic. But, is it true? Plus, the final three types of plastic, can blister packs be recycled and what happens to the lime that is pushed in a beer bottle? Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Stanisecond as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is f...

James and Robbie have a chat with Nick Torday, co-founder and CEO at Bower Collective, a B Corp pioneering refill in the home. Bower Collective deliver cleaning and personal care products in plastic pouches, which are used, sent back and refilled before being sold to another customer. The conversation covers a wide range of potential issues and solutions in the world of packaging refill and reuse....

Easily the question James and Robbie get asked the most, 'why are cucumbers wrapped in plastic?'. A cucumber episode has been promised since episode one and it's finally time to answer the question! Plus, what types of plastic are out there, can pouches be recycled and which bin should shredded paper go into? Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world...

Every time we put out our bin for recycling, there is a cost. Currently, local councils pick up this bill but soon it will shift to the brands who sell us products. How will this work and what will it mean for us?  Plus, how are the metals recycled, which bin do receipts go into and James has a question from his mother-in-law. Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the wor...

James has just got back from the Taylor Swift concert in London, how sustainable was the event?  Plus, how are the metals sorted, can kitchen paper be recycled and are we going to see other changes in packaging because of EU rules? Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolu...

Most of us want refillable packaging to work, but it seems to have continual bumps in the road, with trials getting cancelled and consumers struggling to engage. What have we learned from the trials that have taken place and what can they tell us about the future of refill? Plus, how is glass recycled, which bin do photographs go into and is it better to use a bottle bank or your home recycling bi...

James is joined this week by Natalie Fée, founder of environmental charity City to Sea. James and Natalie have a wide ranging discussion, exploring; how Natalie managed to get all the retailers to switch their cotton buds to cardboard, reuse trials, plastic recycling and waste incineration.  To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram , TikTok , X or Facebook ; @rubbishpodcast or You...

Why has the carrier bag charge not actually led to a reduction in plastic?  Plus, how is glass sorted, can birthday cards be recycled and are the infamous cardboard Olympic beds better than more long term materials? Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from...

Do we all use more packaging when major sporting events are on? Plus, how are cardboard and paper recycled, can cork be recycled and should you use a plastic bottle to store flexible plastic before recycling? Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start t...