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PODCAST

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

James Piper, Robbie Staniforth

"Toast this pair who are trying to make a difference one rubbish episode at a time" - The Independent If you think recycling is boring, think again. James and Robbie are here to prove that recycling is not only important but also downright fun! Ever wondered what happens to the lime in a recycled Corona bottle? Or, why a cucumber needs to be wrapped in plastic? The answers may surprise you. James does the research, while Robbie brings his unfiltered knowledge to the table, making for an

education how to

All Episodes

00:56:46

33. Why finding plastic in the ocean is harder than...

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/03/13

Ocean plastic pollution is a massive problem, but it’s even worse than we think. Many imagine vast islands of floating rubbish, easy to scoop up and remove. The reality? Most of it is nearly invisible, scattered from the surface to the deepest trenches. On today’s episode of Talking Rubbish, we uncover the shocking truth about ocean plastic and why cleaning it up is far more complicated than it seems. Plus, how are lightbulbs collected, are tomato purée tubes rubbish or not and how will Extended

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00:53:58

32. Is Trump right to bring back plastic straws?

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/03/06

It was only a matter of time before a Trump policy made its way onto Talking Rubbish, his ‘BACK TO PLASTIC’ post on social media sealed the deal. This week, we’re diving into the much-vilified drinking straw. What’s the best material for it? Is there any logic in returning to plastic? And why are we so strangely obsessed with straws in the first place? Plus, how are tyres recycled, are glass candle holders rubbish or not and what plastic should we use as a bin liner?Join hosts James Piper and Robbie

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00:54:21

31. Shattered - the end of glass packaging?

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/02/27

With a wave of new recycling legislation on the horizon, weight-based costs are set to become the norm. Could this spell the end of glass packaging as companies pivot to lighter paper and plastic alternatives? In this episode, we break down four key pieces of legislation coming in the next few years and explore how they could reshape the packaging industry, and the products we buy every day. Plus, how are tyres collected, is the plastic widget in a can of Guinness rubbish or not and what is the

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00:49:15

30. A good car crash with Stuart Goldsmith, Climate...

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/02/20

This week, James and Robbie welcome Stuart Goldsmith, a climate comedian. Stuart has performed comedy on TV around the world, including on Live At The Apollo, Conan, and Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central. He now uses his material on climate to support sustainability teams of large organisations, and turn dread into hope and action. Lots of fun was had recording this episode, consider this your content warning if you think our show has too many laughs!As discussed in this episode we would love you

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00:52:47

29. Rubbish decision? The shift to monthly bin...

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/02/13

Bristol is considering a shift to a 4-weekly general bin collection. What’s behind this decision, and how could it help boost recycling rates? In this episode, we dive into the strategies councils are using to optimise waste collections, examining those getting it right and others that still have room for improvement in the ongoing search for the ideal frequency of collection. Plus, how is garden waste recycled, are glasses (of the spectacle variety) rubbish or not, and how clean does our recycling

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00:54:04

28. Disappearing plastic? The controversy of...

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/02/06

How can a plastic be banned in some countries and be mandatory in others? This is the conundrum of oxo-degradable plastic. This week Talking Rubbish attempts to demystify this particular plastic; explaining what it is, how it works and most importantly discussing whether it should exist. Plus, we dig into how garden waste is collected, is the netting around oranges rubbish or not, and what should we do with electricals with built-in batteries?Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they

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00:56:23

27. Why do we export so much plastic for recycling?

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/01/30

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 (don’t worry, we’ll explain), and ask, could mixed plastics contain multiple invisible barcodes?Join hosts

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00:53:57

26. Toxic tableware? The truth about black plastic...

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/01/23

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, and explore if councils will abandon plastic bottle and aluminium can collections when the Deposit

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00:49:54

25. Interview - Alice Rackley, Polytag

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/01/16

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 the fascinating mechanics of their innovative barcodes, and discusses how this transparency impacts brands

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00:51:32

24. Are invisible barcodes the holy grail of plastic...

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/01/09

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 rubbish or not and we answer a really big question, how bad really is glitter?As discussed in this

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00:54:33

23. Recycling rewards - exploring Deposit Return Schemes

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2025/01/02

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, are fireworks rubbish or not and why do some flexible plastics have a label that says not to recycle

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00:58:49

22. Green Christmas - unwrapping festive recycling

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/12/26

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 vs. real), can Christmas crackers be recycled and what exactly is the scrunch test?Join hosts James

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00:46:59

21. How sustainable is having a baby?

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/12/19

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.Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having

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00:53:35

20. Interview - Pierre Paslier, Notpla

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/12/12

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 to creating innovative packaging solutions now used in everyday takeaway boxes and cups. Get ready to

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00:55:13

19. Breaking down compostable plastic

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/12/05

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 delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk

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00:52:12

18. The true cost of deals - Black Friday’s...

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/11/28

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 turning it into Halloween decorations.Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world

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00:49:30

17. Disposable vapes finally going up in smoke

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/11/21

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 about why we need to sort metal if it can be extracted from the incinerator anyway.Join hosts James

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00:51:59

16. Burn or bury - how rubbish is incineration?

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/11/14

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 plastic film on top of food trays.Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the

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00:50:06

15. Interview - Alex Robinson, Hubbub

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/11/07

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 Year' by Charity Times in 2023.Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of

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00:39:45

Halloween sustainability - the scoop on pumpkins

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast ·

2024/10/31

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 helpful guide for a greener Halloween, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they

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