The announcement yesterday that the enforcement of the Biodegradable Landfill ban Purpose was being delayed until 1st January 2028, got me thinking about where the landfill ban journey started and that was back in 2010 with the publication of Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan. At the time this was an ambitious, forward thinking plan with …
Landfill Ban Delay till 2028 – Where It Went Wrong? Read More »
This week, Alasdair and Jane start with a listener shout-out! A big thanks to Deborah Saxton from Saxton Consultancy, who got in touch after our AD episode to share news of a Spanish company developing food waste pre-treatment tech — sounds like a future guest in the making! And our favourite confession of the …
Rubbish Talk Episode 81: Fridge Recycling Waste Journey Read More »
(Inspired by an email from John Crawford, Rubbish Talk Listener and Guest on Episode 53) Every so often, one of our listeners takes us right back to the roots of waste collection — to the days when dustbins clanged, ash filled the air, and “health and safety” was a foreign concept. After tuning …
From Dustbins to Wheelie Bins: John’s Walk Down Memory Lane Read More »
News Roundup Renewables Overtake Coal as the World’s Top Power Source According to BBC News, renewable energy — mainly solar and wind — has overtaken coal as the world’s largest source of electricity for the first half of this year. While China and India lead the charge, richer nations like the US and EU …
Rubbish Talk Episode 80: What Happens To Your Food Waste? Read More »
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3tPABj6gJpCKNGs1tXQzcp?si=ZNbJJ502TMGFm5DEVRW42Q This week we sit down with Larry Kotch, CEO of Flybox®, to explore how black soldier fly larvae can transform organic by-products into high-value protein and fertiliser (frass). Larry’s route to insects started at university, studying environmental governance and waste policy in South Africa. A dissertation on early insect operations “bit him by the …
Rubbish Talk Episode 79: Larry Kotch, CEO of Flybox® Read More »
News Roundup Scotland’s £1.3 Billion Food Waste Problem A new Zero Waste Scotland report reveals households are binning £1.3 billion worth of food every year — that’s around £234 per person, or nearly £100 a month for the average family. Shockingly, 73% of that waste was edible. Overcooking, poor planning, and not using food in …
Rubbish Talk Episode 78: Recycling Collection Systems Read More »
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 …
From Dustmen to Wheelie Bins: The Evolution of Household Waste Management in the UK Read More »
News Roundup Wet Wipe Island on the Thames A 180-tonne “island” of congealed wet wipes has formed along a 250m stretch of the Thames near Hammersmith Bridge — roughly the size of two tennis courts and up to a metre high. Thames Water is bringing in an 8-ton excavator to remove it, but Alasdair …
Rubbish Talk Episode 77: Waste Collection Methods Read More »
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 …
Rubbish Talk Episode 76: Landfill – The Last Resort? Read More »
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 …
Rubbish Talk Episode 75: Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy at the Welsh Government Read More »
