As the new year begins, Alasdair and Jane reflect on what sustainability really means going into 2026. Rather than chasing perfection or the latest green trend, this episode focuses on practical choices, better systems, and learning from where things continue to go wrong. News Round-Up Landfill Collapse Exposes the Human Cost of Waste …
Rubbish Talk Episode 93: Be More Sustainable in 2026 Read More »
Episode 92 kicks off 2026 with a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation as Alasdair is joined by Vicki Hughes, Managing Director of McPhee Associates, Board Member of the Wood Recycling Association (WRA), and Vice President of the Chartered Institution of Waste Management (CIWM). With decades of experience across wood recycling, business development, and sector leadership, …
Rubbish Talk 2025 Quiz 🎉♻️ We kicked off the new year with something a little different — the Rubbish Talk 2025 Quiz. Instead of our usual deep dives, Alasdair and Jane handed the reins to Mia, the podcast’s producer and marketing coordinator, who put together a multiple-choice quiz looking back over a busy year …
Merry Christmas from Rubbish Talk! 🎅🎙️ In this festive episode, Alasdair and Jane swap hard-hitting waste debates for something a little more seasonal — practical, realistic tips to help listeners recycle better and reduce waste over the Christmas period. Whether you’re escaping the family for a dog walk or tuning in after the King’s Speech, this episode is all about keeping …
In this episode of Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by two University of Edinburgh postgraduate students, Cait Lawson and Riska Hasan, for a wide-ranging conversation about waste systems, behaviour change, and what the next generation of waste professionals sees coming next. Cait, an MSc student in Ecological Economics, brings experience from waste research projects …
Episode 89: University of Edinburgh Students on Waste, Behaviour & Change Read More »
As Christmas approaches — and with it a surge in bottles of wine, fizz and festive jars — Alasdair and Jane turn their attention to glass. What happens to it once the recycling bin is emptied? Why does colour sorting matter? And how much of Scotland’s glass is actually recovered? This week’s episode answers …
Rubbish Talk Episode 88: The Waste Journey of Glass Read More »
Rubbish Talk is pleased to share an update from Keep Scotland Beautiful, following their recent engagement with us about Scotland’s ongoing litter and flytipping challenges and the opportunities ahead to drive real change. After reading our recent blog “Rubbish Rules and Realities” with John Crawford, Keep Scotland Beautiful reached out to highlight the importance …
This week, Alasdair and Jane tackle one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the UK: WEEE – Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment. From kettles and cables to laptops, toys, vapes and Christmas lights, electrical items are becoming smaller, cheaper and far more disposable — but the recycling system isn’t keeping up. Before diving in, …
John’s Take on Scotland’s Litter Strategy (Inspired by listener John’s response to Episode 81 of Rubbish Talk) Few people know the realities of waste and litter management better than John, a Rubbish Talk listener and guest on Episode 53. After hearing our recent episode on Episode 81, he shared his candid thoughts on Scotland’s …
John’s Reflections on White Goods and Waste Safety (Inspired by listener John Crawford’s email about Episode 81 of Rubbish Talk) Some stories from the early days of waste management are sobering reminders of how far safety and regulation have come — and how hard-won those lessons were. Long-time listener and former guest John …
