News Roundup Court rejects Biffa’s £51.4m DRS claim The Court of Session has rejected Biffa’s £51.4 million claim against the Scottish Government over the delayed Deposit Return Scheme, ruling that ministers did not negligently mislead the company. While Biffa had already invested heavily in vehicles and infrastructure, the judgment suggests the company took a …
Rubbish Talk Episode 94: Waste Journey of Textiles Read More »
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 »
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, …
This week, Alasdair is joined by a very special guest — Samantha Riggs, a criminal barrister from 25 Bedford Row and one of the UK’s few legal specialists working almost exclusively in environmental and waste management law. Samantha has spent over a decade navigating the complexities of regulation, enforcement, and prosecution in the waste sector …
Rubbish Talk Episode 86: Waste Crime with Samantha Riggs Read More »
News Roundup Albion Environmental Wins UK Business of the Year – Investors in People (Gold) It’s celebration time! Albion Environmental has won UK Business of the Year: Gold (2–49 staff) at the 2025 Investors in People Awards — a recognition of the whole team’s commitment to learning, development, and quality. Alasdair and Mia headed …
Rubbish Talk Episode 85: The Waste Journey of Paper & Cardboard Read More »
