Welcome to Episode 53 of the Rubbish Talk Podcast! This week, we had the honour of chatting with John Crawford, a veteran of the waste management sector whose career spans decades of innovation, advocacy, and education. From his early days driving tractors to lecturing at Strathclyde University, John’s journey is as inspiring as it is fascinating.
John shared the twists and turns of his incredible career, starting as a young boy helping his father’s agricultural contracting business. Over the years, he worked in various roles, including cleansing operations, landfill management, and even corporate waste management for major players like Wimpy Waste. John’s commitment to education also shone through his years as a university lecturer, where he shaped the next generation of waste professionals and wrote a book.
Key moments from his career include introducing Scotland’s first bulky uplift and garden refuse services and developing efficient street-sweeper routes in Saltcoats. John’s knack for innovation and his dedication to making waste management systems more practical and effective are unmatched.
John reflected on how the sector has evolved over time, lamenting the slow progress in areas like recycling rates but emphasising the need for pragmatism and innovation. He spoke candidly about the challenges of integrating public and private waste management systems and shared his views on how education, outreach, and enforcement must balance to improve compliance.
John shares his advice for those entering the sector, it is simple but impactful:
Read everything you can – Knowledge is key, and industry publications like Skip & Waste Magazine are invaluable resources. John has been a guest contributor for many years.
Be pragmatic and objective – Understand the challenges and seek practical solutions.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions – Learning from others’ experience is critical to growth.
Now retired, John stays busy writing columns for industry journals, exploring genealogy, and cheering on Ayrshire football teams. His passion for waste management is still evident as he advocates for better policies and practices in letters to the press and beyond.
Tune in to Episode 53 of the Rubbish Talk Podcast to hear John sharing his inspiring journey from Saltcoats to becoming a lecturer at Strathclyde University, discussing the privatisation of waste management in the UK, and exploring his post-retirement passion for genealogy.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or your favourite platform!
Environmental News Updates
How ready is Scotland for the 2026 landfill ban?
Alasdair and Jane’s Take:
Scotland’s landfill ban is fast approaching at the end of 2025, and Alasdair and Jane see big challenges ahead. Discussing the SLR report, issued in Feb 2024 but only recently released by ZWS, the report shows a 600,000-tonne shortfall in waste to energy capacity and delays in energy-from-waste facilities for 2026. The gap may be even larger than reported in Feb 2024 due to delays in building a number of the Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. Alasdair also highlighted that some of the landfill sites had closed earlier than planned and the gap could be even bigger, raising concerns about where the waste will go.
“There’s a real strain on logistics,” Alasdair noted, explaining that sending waste to England could cost £75 million annually in landfill tax going to HMRC rather than Revenue Scotland, and require 90vehicles and drivers daily—resources that are hard to come by. Jane highlighted the extra strain on areas like Aberdeen and Inverness, where waste transport could take a full day per load or more.
The hosts agree that flexibility is the issue. “Landfills can adjust tonnage easily, but energy-from-waste plants can’t,” said Alasdair. They also flagged EfW maintenance downtime (planned and unplanned) as a risk increasing quantity of waste which will need to be sent south . Jane reflected on the delays, questioning why Scotland isn’t ready yet, and Alasdair suggested that in theory by 2028 there will be sufficient capacity, and issue is about bridging this short term gap. Will the solution be to extend landfill use with additional fees as a possible short-term fix?
We would love to have input from listeners – put your points to hello@rubbishtalk.co.uk
Limbs in the Loch: Alasdair’s Account
Alasdair revisits the infamous 1999 “Limbs in the Loch” murder of Barry Wallace, a case that shocked Scotland and is featured in a current BBC series. William Beggs, the killer, gruesomely disposed of Barry’s remains across various locations, and was thought to have disposed material which ended up at a landfill site Alasdair managed at the time.
Detectives arrived seeking waste from Beggs’ flat, like stripped wallpaper and carpets, but Alasdair warned them of the difficulty of pinpointing specific items among tons of rubbish. A lucky break—the waste had been dumped in a newly designated area—making the three-month winter search possible. Using clues like milk carton expiry dates, the team methodically sifted through the landfill.
Though no crucial evidence was found, Alasdair recalled the enormous effort involved, balancing site operations, assisting police, and life with a newborn. Watching the documentary brought back vivid memories of his unique connection to one of Scotland’s most chilling cases.
Click HERE to watch the full documentary.
Albion News
Happy New Year from Rubbish Talk!
As we step into 2025, we’d like to wish all our listeners a very Happy New Year! Thank you for tuning in, sharing your thoughts, and being part of our growing Rubbish Talk audience. Here’s to another year of engaging conversations!
Celebrating Our Third Year of Rubbish Talk
We’re thrilled to kick off our third year of Rubbish Talk! What started as a small project has grown into an incredible journey thanks to your support. We’ve got exciting episodes lined up for 2025, featuring inspiring guests and interesting topics in waste management. Please continue to like and share, it is much appreciated!
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Rubbish Talk Strava Club: Challenges for Everyone
The Rubbish Talk Strava Club is encouraging the community to stay active, with monthly challenges like the “November 10 and 10 Challenge” (10 minutes of activity for 10 days) and the current “December 15 and 15 Challenge”.
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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.
2025 Training Courses Available Now!
REHIS – Introduction to Waste Management
📅 Tuesday 21st January 2025
📅 Thursday 17th April 2025
REHIS – Working with Waste Management Legislation Course
📅 Tuesday 11th – Wednesday 12th February 2025
📅 Wednesday 7th May – Wednesday 14th May 2025
📅 Thursday 6th March 2025
📅 Wednesday 26th March 2025
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