Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast
Episodes
88. The truth behind ‘lost parcel’ reselling - scam or goldmine?
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens to the parcels that never reach their buyers? A growing industry has an answer, reselling them as “mystery packages,” promising hidde...
87. Is expensive petrol driving people to electric cars?
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As tensions rise in Iran, global oil prices are climbing, with potential knock-on effects for everyday costs. From higher petrol and diesel prices to ...
86. Netflix's 'The Plastic Detox' - what it gets right (and what it misses)
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On 16 March 2026, Netflix released 'The Plastic Detox', a documentary examining the health impacts of chemicals commonly found in plastics, particular...
85. Talking rubbish...with the man who collects it, the No. 1 Binman
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With more than 160,000 followers on TikTok, Ashley might just be the most famous binman in the UK. In this episode, we sit down with the biggest binfl...
84. The BrewDog forest - climate solution or greenwashing?
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In 2020, BrewDog made headlines with a bold promise; to plant Scotland’s largest forest and become the world’s first carbon-negative beer company....
83. Is climate collaboration illegal?
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In October 2025, five US state attorneys general wrote to environmental organisations warning that their collaboration efforts could potentially breac...
82. Is there a teaspoon of microplastics in our brains?
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, a study made startling headlines around the world with the claim that the average person carries the equivalent of a plastic teaspoon of mi...
81. Why we all suddenly have food waste bins (well...almost all)
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Simpler Recycling promises the biggest shake-up to the UK’s recycling system since kerbside collections began. But despite ambitions for nationwide ...
80. How to remove colour from plastic, with Steven Burns
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Much of the plastic packaging we use every day contains colours and additives that can be harmful, and that often prevent the plastic from being recyc...
79. How colour drains the value from plastic recycling
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Colour can make plastic more eye-catching, but it can also make it far less valuable, dramatically reducing the chances that it will ever be recycled ...
78. Birmingham bin strike - what happens when waste piles up?
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A year ago, Birmingham’s bin workers walked out, and the city began to fill with rubbish. What started as a dispute over changes to job progression ...
77. Is recycling a scam?
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s all burned. It’s all shipped to Turkey. Recycling is a myth.”We hear these claims all the time, that our carefully sorted waste ends up ...
76. Why your council tax isn't paying for your recycling anymore
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New legislation is shifting the cost of recycling from taxpayers to the brands that create packaging in the first place. After decades of public fundi...
75. Sustainability around the world, with Ellie Piper
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, Ellie and James left their jobs and spent 15 months travelling around the world. Along the way, they paid close attention to how sustainabili...
74. Should LEGO use recycled plastic?
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, LEGO announced an ambitious plan to make its iconic bricks from recycled plastic bottles. Just two years later, the project was quietly scrap...
73. Battery fires - the growing problem within recycling
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine accidentally starting a fire that caused £30 million in damage and destroyed 60,000 tonnes of UK recycling, and never even knowing you did it...
72. Why labels on bottles could ruin our recycling
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2017, Lucozade bottles were branded a “recycling villain”, not because of the bottle itself, but because the label wrapped around it was stoppi...
71. Dirty business - is waste crime on the rise?
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A vast illegal waste dump in Oxfordshire, stretching 150 metres and sinking two storeys deep, has sent shockwaves through the waste industry. It’s a...
70. Behind the scenes of TV sustainability, with Stephanie Shires
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With nearly 200,000 tonnes of direct carbon emissions linked to the UK TV and film industry in 2024, sustainability is quickly becoming an urgent prio...
69. Green Screen - the carbon footprint of TV
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The world of television is a carbon minefield, packed with travel, fuel use, catering demands, high-maintenance talent and crews racing against the cl...
68. Sustainable toilet paper - getting to the bottom of it
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, toilet rolls wrapped in paper instead of plastic have been hailed as the eco-friendly choice. But in most industries, individually wr...
67. Will there really be more plastic than fish in the ocean?
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2016, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation made a striking prediction: by 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. The claim spread like...
66. Who should win the Earthshot prize?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Launched in 2021, the Earthshot Prize has quickly become one of the most influential awards in global sustainability. Each year, it celebrates groundb...
65. Recycling realities in the Global South, with Esther Carter from Delterra
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With over 17,000 islands, 34,000 miles of coastline, and limited formal waste management, Indonesia faces an immense waste challenge, one that’s com...
64. Why is recycling so hard in America?
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fresh from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition conference in Boston, we dive into America’s focus on EPR, flexible plastics, and consumer engagement...
63. Waste on a plane - how airlines manage recycling
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, airlines generate more than 5.7 million tonnes of cabin waste, much of it disappearing “out of sight, out of mind.” But behind those di...
62. Why toothpaste tubes can finally be recycled
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a seismic shift that really damages the credibility of 'The Rubbish Book', toothpaste tubes can now be recycled. But what changed to make an entire...
61. Labubu - the rise and risks of blind box packaging
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The blind box market is booming, valued at more than $15 billion, with over 10 million Labubu dolls sold each month. But behind the thrill of surprise...
60. FlexCollect - closing the loop on flexible plastic, with Gareth Morton from Ecosurety
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over 160,000 households across 10 local authorities have been trialling flexible plastic collections. The early results are promising: strong particip...
59. How we made flexible plastic recycling valuable
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recycling flexible (or soft) plastics has long been a challenge; costly, labour-intensive, and difficult to scale. In this episode, we explore how maj...
58. Why plastic recycling isn't working
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic recycling is facing breaking point. Financial models aren’t adding up, legislation has stalled, and major brands are dialling back their com...
57. Why the UN Plastic Treaty failed...again!
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hailed as a landmark effort to curb plastic pollution, the plastic treaty was supposed to unite nations around a binding plan to cut production, impro...
56. Is aluminium the ultimate packaging?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aluminium packaging is on the rise, moving beyond drinks cans and into products once dominated by plastic. But is it really the sustainable hero it’...
55. How brands got us hooked on plastic, with Saabira Chaudhuri
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest, Saabira Chaudhuri, author of Consumed: How Big Brands Got Us Hooked on Plastic, takes us on a fascinating journey through the met...
54. Sachets - the true cost of convenience
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the UK, sachets might seem like a small, insignificant problem but across the world, they're anything but. In countries like India, sachets are the...
53. Why excessive packaging is illegal
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever received a tiny item in an enormous box? You're not alone, and believe it or not, that kind of wasteful packaging might actually be illegal. In t...
52. How landfills actually work
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Often ignored and rarely understood, landfills are one of the most fascinating components of our waste system. In this episode, we dig deep (literally...
51. Why does your glass bottle contain microplastics?
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New research suggests that glass bottles may contain more microplastics than plastic bottles or aluminium cans, but how is that even possible? We dive...
50. The truth about climate change, with Mike Berners-Lee
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re thrilled to mark our 50th episode with a very special guest: renowned climate expert and communicator, Mike Berners-Lee. In this milestone con...
49. Carbon offsetting - the good, the bad and the ugly
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carbon offsetting has sparked both enthusiasm and scepticism in recent years. Is it a vital source of funding for crucial climate projects, or just a ...
48. Green fields - can festivals be sustainable?
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Glastonbury! As festival season kicks off, so does a tidal wave of waste, but also a chance for change. Festivals create a unique, closed envir...
47. Recycling in flats - how to make it work
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Flats and houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) have long posed a challenge for the recycling industry, with high contamination rates and varied attitu...
46. Greenwashing exposed - the brands that mislead
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Greenwashing. It's a term we’re hearing far too often, especially about brands that should know better. In this episode, we unpack how slick marketi...
45. Recycling labels explained, with Alice Harlock from OPRL
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, James and Robbie sit down with Alice Harlock from OPRL, the organisation behind those “recycle” or “do not recycle” ...
44. RAM raid - should the Government control our packaging?
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As part of sweeping new recycling legislation, the UK Government is rolling out the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), a traffic light system...
43. Does plastic cause heart disease?
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, headlines sounded the alarm: 'Plastic causes heart disease!' Scary? Definitely. But as usual, the reality is far more complex than the cli...
42. Do we really only recycle 9% of plastic?
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The widely cited statistic that just 9% of plastic is recycled has become a common talking point, but how accurate is it? In this episode, we unpack t...
41. On a mission - what can we learn from plastic recycling in South Africa?
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Robbie is back from a Global Expert Mission to South Africa, where he explored the challenges and innovations shaping plastic recycling and sustainabi...
40. Is paper the new glass, with Will Connolly from Diageo
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our first ever live episode, recorded at the NEC in Birmingham during Packaging Innovations! In this special episode, James and Robbie are joined by W...
39. From plastic to paper - a greener move or greenwashed myth?
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The shift from plastic to paper is gaining momentum as brands look for more sustainable packaging, but is paper really the better option? This episode...
38. Who is the best recycler in England?
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The recycling league tables are in! Recycling rates are on the rise, but there is a twist; the actual amount of packaging being recycled is going down...
37. Eco-pets - reducing your pet’s carbon pawprint
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy National Pet Day! In this special episode, we're celebrating our beloved furry companions while exploring how to care for them in a more eco-fri...
36. Ditching disposables - making reusable coffee cups the new normal
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite years of effort, reusable cup initiatives have struggled to break through, often dismissed as 'interesting but not scalable'. Some coffee shop...
35. How to recycle a coffee cup with Rob Tilsley from James Cropper
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, James and Robbie dive deeper into the world of coffee cups with special guest Rob Tilsley from James Cropper, a UK pioneer i...
34. Cups, coatings, and confusion - why your coffee cup isn’t recycled
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We get through a staggering 3.2 billion single-use paper coffee cups every year and most of us assume they’re easily recyclable. But the reality? It...
33. Why finding plastic in the ocean is harder than you think
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
32. Is Trump right to bring back plastic straws?
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
31. Shattered - the end of glass packaging?
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
30. A good car crash with Stuart Goldsmith, Climate Comedian
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
29. Rubbish decision? The shift to monthly bin collections
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
28. Disappearing plastic? The controversy of oxo-degradable
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
27. Why do we export so much plastic for recycling?
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 wo...
26. Toxic tableware? The truth about black plastic utensils
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
25. Making the invisible, visible, with Alice Rackley from Polytag
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, James and Robbie welcome Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, a groundbreaking company revolutionising plastic recycling with UV watermark techno...
24. Are invisible barcodes the holy grail of plastic recycling?
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 yogh...
23. Recycling rewards - exploring Deposit Return Schemes
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Deposit Return Schemes are officially on the horizon! With the Government having recently passed legislation, there’s no better time to dive into th...
22. Green Christmas - unwrapping festive recycling
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 bo...
21. How sustainable is having a baby?
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
20. How to make packaging from seaweed, with Pierre Paslier from Notpla
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, James and Robbie are joined by Pierre Paslier, co-founder of Notpla, a groundbreaking company turning seaweed into sustainable alternatives...
19. Breaking down compostable plastic
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Compostable plastic has grown significantly in the past few years as producers of packaging attempt to move away from conventional plastics. Why is th...
18. The true cost of deals - Black Friday’s environmental impact
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 gro...
17. Disposable vapes finally going up in smoke
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
16. Burn or bury - how rubbish is incineration?
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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, w...
15. Fun recycling campaigns, with Alex Robinson from Hubbub
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
14. Halloween sustainability - the scoop on pumpkins
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome, ghouls and goblins, to a spooky special of Talking Rubbish! This week, we explore the truly terrifying statistics behind the Halloween pumpki...
13. Is recycling flexible plastic worth the effort?
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
12. Which plastics have been banned and why?
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
11. Are we really eating a credit card of microplastic weekly?
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
10. Making refill easy with Nick Torday from Bower Collective
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 delive...
9. Why are cucumbers wrapped in plastic?
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Easily the question James and Robbie get asked the most, 'why are cucumbers wrapped in plastic?'. A cucumber episode has been promised since episode o...
8. Who's really paying for your recycling?
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 sel...
7. How green is a Taylor Swift concert?
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
6. How can we make refillable packaging work?
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
5. Ending the plastic cotton bud, with Natalie Fée from City to Sea
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James is joined this week by Natalie Fée, founder of environmental charity City to Sea. James and Natalie have a wide ranging discussion, exploring; ...
4. The surprising truth behind the carrier bag charge
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 inf...
3. Do the Olympics fuel packaging use?
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
2. Why coffee pods aren't that bad
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discover why coffee pods may not be that bad for the environment after all and how they can get recycled. Plus, how are cardboard and paper sorted, ca...
1. Why are bottle caps suddenly attached?
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discover why bottle caps are suddenly tethered to drinks bottles and how this can help with their recycling. Plus, how is waste actually collected, ca...
Welcome to Talking Rubbish
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join award winning sustainability experts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they talk absolute rubbish. Expect detailed discussion around some of t...