In Episode 46 of the Rubbish Talk Podcast, we sit down with John Rennie, Operations Officer at Volker Gruppe, to dive deep into the world of plastics and cardboard recycling, with a special focus on polystyrene recovery. For over 26 years, John has been navigating the complexities of plastic waste management and recovery across Scotland.
John’s journey into the waste industry wasn’t planned. In fact, he initially studied theatre lighting technology. His path into recycling began due to his dad who had a long history in the cardboard recycling sector. Learning from the ground up, John’s experience has grown to encompass plastics, particularly polystyrene (EPS), and he has learned valuable lessons along the way.
Polystyrene, is a core material at Volker Gruppe’s Chryston facility in North Lanarkshire, where John manages EPS recovery operations. While polystyrene is 98% air and just 2% material, its recyclability is immense. The facility crushes and briquettes loose EPS for reuse in insulation products, showcasing its potential for reducing waste and contributing to a circular economy.
John stresses that polystyrene can be recycled without additives, offering environmental benefits that many overlook. He highlights its versatility, especially when sourced from packaging in industries like electronics, furniture, and medical equipment.
John is passionate about driving further infrastructure for plastic recovery in the UK, particularly for polystyrene and mixed plastics. He emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about EPS, a material often overlooked in recycling conversations. “If it’s not me talking about recycling, then who is?” he asks, highlighting the need for stronger advocacy in the industry.
His advice to the younger generation? Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. John encourages young people to volunteer at their local recyclers, gain hands-on experience, and join the ever-evolving recycling sector. With a growing need for innovation and infrastructure, there’s plenty of work to be done, and the industry is ripe for fresh talent.
John’s immediate goal is to push EPS recovery even further, aiming to increase awareness and collection rates for polystyrene. He looks forward to a future where plastic recovery is supported by robust infrastructure, particularly for mixed plastics.
John Rennie’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability and perseverance in an industry that’s often misunderstood. From accidental beginnings to becoming a leading voice in polystyrene recycling, John’s experience offers valuable insights into the future of waste management.
Useful Links
Environmental News Updates
Scottish Environment Protection Agency – Citizen Space
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is inviting you to share your thoughts on important updates to how environmental activities are regulated in Scotland. These proposed changes aim to simplify and standardize environmental authorizations under the 2018 Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations. Your input could help shape a more sustainable future for Scotland – so don’t miss this opportunity to get involved!
Deadline for responses: 13 October 2024 and 24 November 2024.
Polytag Secures £100k from Welsh Government
Exciting news for Polytag! The company has just secured over £100,000 from the Welsh Government’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) to support an innovative new project. With this funding, Polytag will be installing four Plastic Detection Units across Wales, furthering the nation’s impressive strides toward a fully circular economy. A big step forward for waste reduction and sustainability! Alasdair and Jane chat about the opportunities this technology may provide by allowing a digital DRS where consumers claim their return and then use their existing council recycling collection system.
Caerphilly Council Issues 19 Fixed Penalty Notices for Waste Contamination
Caerphilly Council has taken action regarding recycling. The council has issued 19 fixed penalty notices to residents for repeatedly contaminating their recycling bins with incorrect materials. This comes after anew enforcement process was rolled out in early 2024 to tackle the issue head-on and improve recycling quality. This is sending a clear message to all, it’s more important than ever to recycle right! But as Alasdair discusses, is this really news or should this just be common practice that every council is engaging in?
Howard Dryden Talks Biodiversity and Sustainability
Alasdair was highlighting the poor state of biodiversity in the UK and how Howard Dryden believes that improving biodiversity is just or if not more important than reducing Carbon. Howard Dryden, a passionate advocate for biodiversity and rewilding, shared alarming statistics on the on going destruction of the planet’s ecosystems. According to Dryden, we’ve already lost over 70% of all life on Earth since 1970, with even more alarming projections for the next 20 years. The message is clear, we need to take immediate action to protect what’s left of our natural world and push for sustainability at every level.
Audrey Tang on Using Technology for Public Engagement
This led to a discussion on how polarised the environmental debate is becoming and Alasdair suggested we could use technology and experience from other countries to have a more grown-up debate about some of the key issues. An example would be the Leading Podcast with Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, in a recent interview with Taiwan’s Digital Minister, Audrey Tang, where they discussed innovative ways technology is being used to engage citizens in democratic processes. Tang highlighted the Pol.is platform, which uses machine learning and real-time analysis to facilitate large-scale public discussions.
Keenan Recycling – UK’s Leading Food Waste Company
And finally Alasdair recently spotted a Keenan Recycling van featuring a striking advertisement: “Two banana peels can charge an iPhone.” This clever message highlights how food waste, in an anaerobic digestion (AD) process when broken down by bacteria in the absence of oxygen, produces methane. The methane is then captured and burned to generate electricity, which is fed into the national grid. This process is far more energy-efficient than incinerating waste or sending it to landfill and also provides a valuable digestate which is used as a fertilizer on agricultural land reducing the requirement for artificial fertiliser. But we did question whether the public actually have the understanding of how “Two banana peels can charge an iPhone.”
To learn more about Keenan recycling have a listen to our 2nd podcast episode with Grant Keenan and his innovative approach to waste recycling,
Click Here to Listen to Episode 2.
Albion News
Exciting News for the podcast!
We’re thrilled to announce that Albion is now using a brand-new recording platform – Riverside FM! This switch promises higher-quality audio and video, making your listening experience better than ever. We’re excited about the improvements this platform brings and can’t wait to share even more great content with you. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes and let us know what you think!
We now have a Rubbish Talk Email Address!
If you would like to get in contact with us by email, please do!
We are currently in the process of setting us Rubbish Talk social media accounts, so keep an eye out for them!
We would love feedback from our listeners!
We are always eager for guest suggestions, general feedback as well as spreading the word about Rubbish Talk to friends, family, colleagues and others to help us reach a wider audience.
Resourcing Scotland Event – November 2024
This is a new event for the waste and recycling industry, organised jointly by ESA/SESA, CIWM (Scotland), RMAS, REA and the Local Authority Waste Managers and Officers Network.
Taking place on Thursday 14th November at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, the overarching theme for the conference is Operationalising Policy, focusing on the key topical issues for the industry with participation by sector experts.
Upcoming Training Courses!
HWRC – Household Waste Recycling Centre Operators Course
📅 Wednesday 23rd October 2024
1 Day REHIS – Introduction to Waste Management Legislation Course
📅 6th November 2024
2 Day REHIS – Working with Waste Management Legislation Course
📅 19th – 20th November 2024
Have you had a look at our Tik Tok Account yet?
We have recently introduced a fortnightly video called “Meet the Team Monday” where we interview our staff and to find out their job roles, favourite part about their job, favourite/funny memory and a “which colleague is most likely to…” question to add some humour. Make sure to follow us and check out our videos.
Help us spread the word about the Rubbish Talk Podcast!
Your support helps us reach a wider audience and continue to provide valuable content on waste management and sustainability.
Additionally, if you have any guest suggestions or topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes, we’d love to hear from you!
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your ideas and recommendations. Together, let’s make a positive impact in the waste management community. Thank you for your support!