Episodes

Our first ever live episode, recorded at the NEC in Birmingham during Packaging Innovations! In this special episode, James and Robbie are joined by Will Connolly from Diageo, the creative force behind the paper-based packaging for iconic brands like Johnnie Walker and Baileys. Together, we dive deeper into the world of paperisation, exploring why paper bottles are gaining momentum, the challenges of sorting and recycling them, and what it will take to move from niche experiments to mainstream adoption.

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 digs beneath the surface of the paper trend, uncovering hidden environmental concerns like increasing monoculture forests, water use and the carbon impact of paper. Plus, we also dive into how textiles are recycled, whether tracing paper is rubbish or not, and just how much of your average milk bottle is made from recycled plastic.

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. Confused? So were we. In this episode, we unpack this surprising contradiction and dive into the data. Which regions in England are leading the charge, and which are falling behind? And more importantly, why? Plus, we explore the sorting of textiles, are Calpol syringes rubbish or not and can you recycle broken glass?

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-friendly way. From sustainable pet diets to the best plastics for waste disposal, we’ll share simple tips to reduce your pet’s pawprint on the planet. Plus, how are pet food pouches recycled, are dog toys rubbish or not and can you compost dog poo?

Despite years of effort, reusable cup initiatives have struggled to break through, often dismissed as 'interesting but not scalable'. Some coffee shops have even banned single-use cups, only to watch their sales drop. So, what’s really holding reuse back? And can we ever make it the norm? In this episode, we dive into the successes, setbacks, and lessons learned from the push for reusables, and explore whether a waste-free coffee culture is truly within reach. Plus, how are textiles collected, are magnets rubbish or not and how could EPR improve reuse?

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 in coffee cup recycling. Together, they unpack the hidden economics behind plastic-lined cups versus innovative new coatings, reveal how brands and retailers have been quietly working to collect our used cups for longer than we realise, and uncover the surprising reason Christmas brings a wave of pink cardboard.

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’s not that simple. In this episode, we unpack why coffee cups are so hard to recycle, why they need to be collected separately, and what role those tricky plastic coatings play. Listen to find out what you should be doing with your cup once you’ve finished that double espresso. Plus, how are lightbulbs recycled, are hot water bottles rubbish or not and how does mixing waste affect recycling rates?

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 Producer Responsibility (EPR) affect smaller companies?

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?

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 purpose of the Green Dot?

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 (BBC), Conan (TBS), and Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central (UK).​ 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!

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 actually need to be?

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?

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?

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 Return Scheme rolls out.

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. Are companies embracing the data, or are they wary of the insights it reveals?

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?

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 them?

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?

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.

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 be inspired by this story of creativity, science and impact!

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.

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.

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.