Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast
Podcast

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

James Piper, Robbie Staniforth

116 episodes

EducationSociety & CultureScience

"Toast this pair who are trying to make a difference one rubbish episode at a time" - The Independent If you think recycling is boring, think again. James and Robbie are here to prove that recycling is not only important but also downright fun! Ever wondered what happens to the lime in a recycled Corona bottle? Or, why a cucumber needs to be wrapped in plastic? The answers may surprise you. James does the research, while Robbie brings his unfiltered knowledge to the table, making for an unexpectedly entertaining deep dive into the weird and wonderful world of recycling. From busting myths to answering the wildest questions, you’ll laugh, learn, and maybe even rethink what you toss in the bin. “Eye-opening stuff and only rarely dry” - The Guardian "Who knew rubbish could be so interesting" - Radio Times "This podcast will make you smarter and greener" - The i "Full of handy, informative insights" - Heat

What this show covers

packagingdeposit return schemewaste policydeposit return schemessustainabilityhousehold recyclingfood wastelitter reductionlocal authoritiesreverse vending machinesUK recyclingNorwayUK waste policydigital recyclingRecycling finance

What listeners will find here

The UK’s DRS under the microscope: cost, litter, councils and the 2027 launch
The UK’s deposit return scheme is the focus here, as Julian Hunt from Exchange for Change answers big questions about how it will work. The episode digs into litter reduction, the 20p deposit, funding, reverse vending machines, and whether councils could lose value from kerbside collections.
Why Norway’s bottle return system gets almost everything back
Norway’s deposit return scheme brings back around 98% of bottles and cans, and this episode digs into why. James Piper and Robbie Staniforth look at the producer tax incentives, the ease of returning containers, and what really drives people to take part.
Why digital bottle deposits sound easy—and get messy fast
Digital deposit return is the focus here, as James Piper and Robbie Staniforth unpack why scanning containers at home and claiming deposits back isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. They also cover swimming caps, old household bins, dream-shop packaging, and James’s unexpected annoyance with Lego.
Why the UK’s DRS could cost brands nothing at first
The episode examines the finances behind the UK Deposit Return Scheme and why drinks brands might pay nothing for its first 15 months. James Piper and Robbie Staniforth explore producer fees, recycled material value, and unclaimed deposits, then widen out into packaging quirks, bins, ketchup, and reusables.
What Ireland’s bottle return scheme reveals before the UK launches its own
Deposit return schemes are the focus here, with a look at Ireland’s system and the bigger question of when a deposit starts to feel like a tax. James and Robbie explore what works, what backfires, and what the UK might learn before its 2027 rollout, alongside lighter debates on arcade tickets, labels, and butter packaging.

Episodes

115. Inside the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme with Julian Hunt
115. Inside the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme with Julian Hunt
8 Oct 2026 · 59 min
114. How Norway gets 98% of its bottles and cans back
114. How Norway gets 98% of its bottles and cans back
1 Oct 2026 · 59 min
113. Why can't we just make deposit return digital?
113. Why can't we just make deposit return digital?
24 Sept 2026 · 59 min
112. Why the UK Deposit Return Scheme is free for brands
112. Why the UK Deposit Return Scheme is free for brands
17 Sept 2026 · 59 min
111. When does a Deposit Return Scheme become a tax?
111. When does a Deposit Return Scheme become a tax?
10 Sept 2026 · 59 min
110. Have we been talking about the environment all wrong? With Lucy Siegle
110. Have we been talking about the environment all wrong? With Lucy Siegle
3 Sept 2026 · 54 min
109. Why recycling labels are about to get more confusing
109. Why recycling labels are about to get more confusing
27 Aug 2026 · 58 min
108. Why are we sending so much plastic to Turkey?
108. Why are we sending so much plastic to Turkey?
20 Aug 2026 · 57 min
107. Why our bins keep catching fire
107. Why our bins keep catching fire
13 Aug 2026 · 59 min
106. Why your fridge is making you waste food
106. Why your fridge is making you waste food
6 Aug 2026 · 59 min
105. The free food app rescuing millions of meals, with Tessa Clarke from Olio
105. The free food app rescuing millions of meals, with Tessa Clarke from Olio
30 Jul 2026 · 59 min
104. Why flexible plastic might never be recycled
104. Why flexible plastic might never be recycled
23 Jul 2026 · 59 min
103. PFAS - what you need to know about forever chemicals
103. PFAS - what you need to know about forever chemicals
16 Jul 2026 · 59 min
102. Greenwashing exposed - what Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein got wrong
102. Greenwashing exposed - what Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein got wrong
9 Jul 2026 · 59 min
101. PPWR - why packaging will never be the same
101. PPWR - why packaging will never be the same
2 Jul 2026 · 59 min
100 episodes later...still Talking Rubbish
100 episodes later...still Talking Rubbish
25 Jun 2026 · 59 min
99. Why cartons aren't being recycled
99. Why cartons aren't being recycled
18 Jun 2026 · 59 min
98. Should we ban ‘plastic-free’ packaging?
98. Should we ban ‘plastic-free’ packaging?
11 Jun 2026 · 59 min
97. Why we're getting reusable packaging wrong
97. Why we're getting reusable packaging wrong
4 Jun 2026 · 59 min
96. How recycling is really funded
96. How recycling is really funded
28 May 2026 · 59 min
95. The tech that could end overpackaged boxes, with Jude Pullen
95. The tech that could end overpackaged boxes, with Jude Pullen
21 May 2026 · 59 min
94. From Kindle to kindling - how Big Tech creates waste
94. From Kindle to kindling - how Big Tech creates waste
14 May 2026 · 59 min
93. The death of the barcode - a win for sustainability?
93. The death of the barcode - a win for sustainability?
7 May 2026 · 58 min
92. How the war in Iran is reshaping the plastic market
92. How the war in Iran is reshaping the plastic market
30 Apr 2026 · 59 min
91. Is the Government driving up plastic use?
91. Is the Government driving up plastic use?
23 Apr 2026 · 58 min
90. Inside Netflix's 'The Plastic Detox' - the story beyond the screen, with Eric Isaac
90. Inside Netflix's 'The Plastic Detox' - the story beyond the screen, with Eric Isaac
16 Apr 2026 · 59 min
89. Is palm oil really that bad?
89. Is palm oil really that bad?
9 Apr 2026 · 55 min
88. The truth behind ‘lost parcel’ reselling - scam or goldmine?
88. The truth behind ‘lost parcel’ reselling - scam or goldmine?
2 Apr 2026 · 59 min
87. Is expensive petrol driving people to electric cars?
87. Is expensive petrol driving people to electric cars?
26 Mar 2026 · 58 min
86. Netflix's 'The Plastic Detox' - what it gets right (and what it misses)
86. Netflix's 'The Plastic Detox' - what it gets right (and what it misses)
19 Mar 2026 · 59 min
85. Talking rubbish...with the man who collects it, the No. 1 Binman
85. Talking rubbish...with the man who collects it, the No. 1 Binman
12 Mar 2026 · 58 min
84. The BrewDog forest - climate solution or greenwashing?
84. The BrewDog forest - climate solution or greenwashing?
5 Mar 2026 · 59 min
83. Is climate collaboration illegal?
83. Is climate collaboration illegal?
26 Feb 2026 · 59 min
82. Is there a teaspoon of microplastics in our brains?
82. Is there a teaspoon of microplastics in our brains?
19 Feb 2026 · 57 min
81. The sudden rise of food waste bins
81. The sudden rise of food waste bins
12 Feb 2026 · 58 min
80. How to remove colour from plastic, with Steven Burns
80. How to remove colour from plastic, with Steven Burns
5 Feb 2026 · 55 min
79. How colour drains the value from plastic recycling
79. How colour drains the value from plastic recycling
29 Jan 2026 · 59 min
78. Birmingham bin strike - what happens when waste piles up?
78. Birmingham bin strike - what happens when waste piles up?
22 Jan 2026 · 59 min
77. Is recycling a scam?
77. Is recycling a scam?
15 Jan 2026 · 57 min
76. Why your council tax isn't paying for your recycling anymore
76. Why your council tax isn't paying for your recycling anymore
8 Jan 2026 · 58 min
75. Sustainability around the world, with Ellie Piper
75. Sustainability around the world, with Ellie Piper
1 Jan 2026 · 59 min
74. Should LEGO use recycled plastic?
74. Should LEGO use recycled plastic?
25 Dec 2025 · 59 min
73. Battery fires - the growing problem within recycling
73. Battery fires - the growing problem within recycling
18 Dec 2025 · 55 min
72. Why labels on bottles could ruin our recycling
72. Why labels on bottles could ruin our recycling
11 Dec 2025 · 53 min
71. Dirty business - is waste crime on the rise?
71. Dirty business - is waste crime on the rise?
4 Dec 2025 · 59 min
70. Behind the scenes of sustainable TV production, with Stephanie Shires
70. Behind the scenes of sustainable TV production, with Stephanie Shires
27 Nov 2025 · 52 min
69. Green Screen - the carbon footprint of TV
69. Green Screen - the carbon footprint of TV
20 Nov 2025 · 58 min
68. Sustainable toilet paper - getting to the bottom of it
68. Sustainable toilet paper - getting to the bottom of it
13 Nov 2025 · 57 min
67. Will there really be more plastic than fish in the ocean?
67. Will there really be more plastic than fish in the ocean?
6 Nov 2025 · 50 min
66. Who should win the Earthshot prize?
66. Who should win the Earthshot prize?
30 Oct 2025 · 55 min

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