RubbishTalk

From Dustmen to Wheelie Bins: The Evolution of Household Waste Management in the UK

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The management of solid waste in the United Kingdom has undergone profound changes over the past two centuries, reflecting broader shifts in urbanisation, public health, technology, and environmental awareness. What began as rudimentary disposal methods has evolved into a highly regulated, multi-stream collection system designed to minimise environmental impact and promote resource recovery.   In …

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Rubbish Talk Episode 76: Landfill – The Last Resort?

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  News Roundup 🗞️ Fire at S Norton’s Glasgow East Facility Another week, another fire — this time at S Norton’s Glasgow East site. Six fire appliances and a high-reach vehicle were called out on 10 September, though thankfully no one was injured. Alasdair points out that around four refuse collection vehicles catch fire every …

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Rubbish Talk Episode 75: Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy at the Welsh Government

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  This week on the Rubbish Talk Podcast we welcome a special guest – Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy at the Welsh Government – for a fascinating conversation about how Wales became a global leader in recycling and what the rest of the UK can learn from their approach.   Andy’s career spans …

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Rubbish Talk Episode 74: Your Waste, Your Responsibility

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  News Roundup 🗞️ EU Plastics Recycling Industry Warns of Imminent Collapse The European plastics recycling sector is in crisis. Falling demand, rising costs, and low-priced imports are pushing facilities to the brink. Industry leaders warn that by the end of 2025, Europe could lose at least 1 million tonnes of recycling capacity. Alasdair links …

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Rubbish Talk Episode 73: Recover the Energy of Waste Produced

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  News Roundup 📰   KKR Set to Sell Viridor for £7bn Private equity firm KKR is preparing to sell UK-based recycling and waste management giant Viridor, just five years after acquiring it for £4.2bn. With a potential sale price of around £7bn, the deal reflects the ongoing high value of waste infrastructure — despite …

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Paper Cup Recycling Fund: Token Gesture or Genuine Solution?

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A new initiative has been announced, offering a £45,000 fund to support paper cup recycling projects across the UK. The scheme, backed by major high street brands including Costa Coffee, McDonald’s, Pret a Manger, Caffè Nero, Lavazza Professional, Greggs and Burger King, aims to encourage innovative approaches to tackling the country’s single-use cup problem.   …

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Rubbish Talk Episode 72: Recycle The Waste You Produce

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  News Roundup Scotland’s Recycling Reality Check The Scottish Government has released a new report on waste reprocessing infrastructure, outlining how 15 key material streams are managed. While food waste and some streams are recycled locally, much of Scotland’s “recycling” is simply bulked up and sent elsewhere. Alasdair highlights the need for clearer stats that …

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Back to School, Back to Litter Problems

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An opinion piece by John Crawford, Life Member CIWM   FOR most council cleansing officers, the end of the summer holidays means reorganising weekday workloads to cope with clearing up the additional litter and mess left at secondary school gates after lunch breaks.   Despite working in the business for decades I’d never been able to …

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Has SEPA Ran It’s Race?

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An opinion piece by John Crawford, Life Member CIWM   Although our numbers dwindle year on year, there are still a few Members of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland who will recall the position we took in 1992 when it emerged that the Westminster Government intended to set up a new Scotland-wide organisation …

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