This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Stephen Cameron, Managing Director at Change Waste Recycling, to discuss business growth, source-segregated recycling, food waste, and the challenges of getting people to use existing waste systems properly.
Stephen shares his journey into the waste sector, which began after the 2008 financial crash when he joined a small waste business on a short-term contract. What started as a temporary opportunity turned into a long-term career, helping grow SWR Newstar from a small unknown company into a major UK waste broker before eventually moving to Change Waste Recycling.
The conversation explores the work of Change Waste Recycling, which operates from Edinburgh and Glasgow, employing 77 people and servicing over 3,000 customer sites each month. The business collects materials including food waste, paper, cardboard, plastics, glass and general waste, with a strong focus on keeping materials separate to improve quality and recycling outcomes.
Stephen explains how Change Waste Recycling’s model differs from traditional mixed recycling collections. By encouraging customers to separate materials such as fibre, plastics and cans at source, the company can provide cleaner recyclables and help customers better understand what they are producing. He also discusses the practical challenges businesses face, especially in busy city centres where space is limited and waste collections need to work around daily operations.
A key theme throughout the episode is the importance of using the systems we already have more effectively. Stephen argues that the UK’s waste and recycling systems are not necessarily broken — but they are often used badly. From food waste still ending up in residual bins to poor segregation in public spaces, the conversation highlights how much could improve if people simply used existing services properly.
Food waste is a major focus, with Stephen and Alasdair discussing the huge financial and environmental benefits of separating it correctly. As Stephen explains, the true cost of food waste is not just disposal — it is the cost of buying food in the first place and then throwing it away. For businesses, better segregation can help reveal where waste is being generated and where savings can be made.
Stephen also shares honest reflections from his career, including the excitement of growing a business, the lessons learned from difficult contract mobilisations, and why he enjoys working in smaller, agile businesses where decisions can have a visible impact.
Looking ahead, he sees waste as a fascinating and secure industry with huge opportunities for young people. Despite growing automation and AI, Stephen believes waste will always need people, innovation and practical problem-solving.
A thoughtful and engaging episode covering recycling, business growth, food waste, customer behaviour and why doing the simple things properly could make a huge difference.
Useful Links
Change Waste Recycling | LinkedIn
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