This week on the Rubbish Talk Podcast we welcome a special guest – Michael Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Circular Communities Scotland – for an in-depth conversation about the role of community-led projects in building a circular economy. Michael’s journey into the sector wasn’t part of a grand plan; he began his career in …
News Roundup Plastics and Public Health The Lancet Medical Journal warns that plastics are harming health at every stage of life and costing the global economy $1.5 trillion annually. Alasdair and Jane reflect on the alarming scale of plastic production and waste, and share their concerns over microplastics in everyday items like coffee cups …
Rubbish Talk Episode 70: Deep Dive into Plasterboard Read More »
News Roundup UK Recycling Rate Rises… But Scotland Lags Behind New stats show the UK’s recycling rate rose to 44.6% in 2023, with Wales leading at 57% and Scotland trailing at 42.1%. While the numbers sound promising, they include incinerator bottom ash metals — and they’re already a year and a half out of …
Rubbish Talk Episode 69: Reuse The Waste You Produce Read More »
Rubbish Rant 🗑️ Why can’t we just take our litter home? In our first-ever official Rubbish Rant under the new podcast format, Alasdair kicks things off with a very relatable frustration: litter left behind on Scottish beaches after a sunny weekend. Despite bins being placed every 20 yards, people still leave glass bottles, overflowing …
Rubbish Talk Episode 68: Reduce The Waste You Produce Read More »
This week on Rubbish Talk, we sit down with Charlotte Davies, Senior Consultant in Resource Efficiency and Circularity at Beyondly and the first Early Careers President for CIWM. Charlotte brings energy, humour, and expertise to a wide-ranging conversation about the future of waste, sustainability, and what it means to make a meaningful impact early …
This week on Rubbish Talk, we’re joined by Rod Paterson, Senior Purchasing Manager at Ekman Recycling and Commercial Director at Alan Morris Recycling. With a career spanning nearly four decades, Rod takes us on a remarkable journey through the waste and recycling industry — from the early days of emptying septic tanks to steering …
Rubbish Talk Episode 66: Rod Paterson, Senior Purchasing Manager at Ekman Recycling Read More »
In episode 65 of Rubbish Talk, we sit down with Louise Robertson, founder of the Sustainables Academy, a volunteer-powered, not-for-profit organisation that’s rewriting how sustainability and waste are taught in schools worldwide. Louise draws on her years as a head teacher and part-time lecturer in the UK and beyond to explain why she felt …
Rubbish Talk Episode 65: Louise Robertson, Founder of the Sustainables Academy Read More »
What you need to know Effective from 31 December 2025, landfill operators across Scotland will no longer be permitted to accept biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) for disposal. This milestone marks a significant step in Scotland’s journey toward a circular economy and sustainable waste management. What is Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW)? BMW typically includes household …
Scotland’s Biodegradable Municipal Waste Landfill Ban Read More »
Last year, we explored the varying cost of garden waste permit costs across Scotland’s councils. In 2024, 21 out of 32 councils charged residents for brown bin collections—a move aimed at recovering costs but fraught with inconsistency. In 2025, that number has grown, and many councils have revised their pricing, frequencies or service …
The Garden Waste Debate: Scotland’s Council Permits in 2025 Read More »
In episode 64 of Rubbish Talk, we sit down with Guy MacGregor, Business Development Director at Binn Group, one of Scotland’s leading waste management and recycling companies. Guy takes us behind the scenes of Binn Group’s impressive operations, sharing how the company has grown over the years and how they’re pushing the boundaries in …
Rubbish Talk Episode 64: Guy MacGregor, Business Development Director at Binn Group Read More »
