Rubbish Talk Podcasts

  News Roundup  Council leader receives threats over recycling vote A council leader in Wiltshire has reportedly received threats after proposing the closure of two recycling centres. Alasdair and Jane highlight how emotional and controversial HWRC changes can become but agree that threatening behaviour is never acceptable — especially when local authorities are trying to manage sites that are …

Rubbish Talk Episode 96: Waste Journey of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) Read More »

  This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair and Jane follow the waste journey of one of the most common (and most misunderstood) materials we all rely on: tyres. From collection and processing, to recycling markets and the darker side of exports, it’s a fascinating look at what really happens once your tyres are worn out. …

Rubbish Talk Episode 95: Waste Journey of Tyres Read More »

  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 Episode 92: Vicki Hughes on Wood Recycling, Sector Resilience & Future Skills Read More »

  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 …

Episode 91: Rubbish Talk 2025 Quiz Read More »

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 …

Episode 90: Christmas Recycling Tips Read More »

  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, …

Rubbish Talk Episode 87: The Waste Journey of WEEE (Waste, Electrical & Electronic Equipment) Read More »