Rubbish Talk

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

A landfill collapse in the Philippines has killed at least one person and trapped dozens more, underlining how poorly managed waste sites can become life-threatening. It’s a stark reminder that waste management failures don’t just damage the environment — they endanger lives.

Lego’s “Smart Bricks” Spark Sustainability Concerns

Lego has unveiled tech-filled Smart Bricks, prompting unease from experts about durability, repairability, and the growing trend of adding electronics to everyday products. Alasdair and Jane question whether this kind of innovation really supports sustainability or creates more future waste.

Kidlington Fly-Tip Clean-Up Comes With a Heavy Price Tag

The long-awaited clearance of the Kidlington illegal waste site is due to begin in February, with an £8 million contract awarded to Acumen Waste Services. Around 21,000 tonnes of waste will be cleared at a cost of roughly £380 per tonne — a reminder that waste crime always ends up costing someone.

Britain’s Biggest Fly-Tip Back in the Spotlight

A major illegal waste dump has hit national headlines again, highlighting years of inaction and regulatory failure. The discussion focuses less on shock value and more on how sites like this are allowed to grow unnoticed for so long.

Farewell to Zero Waste Scotland’s CEO

Zero Waste Scotland has announced that CEO Iain Gulland will step down after 11 years. Alasdair and Jane reflect on the importance of leadership in driving long-term progress on waste prevention and the circular economy.

Topic: Be More Sustainable in 2026

Rather than setting unrealistic resolutions, Alasdair and Jane argue that sustainability in 2026 needs to be about better decisions, not more effort. They discuss how the pressure to be “environmentally perfect” often puts people off entirely, when small, consistent changes can have a far greater impact over time.

The conversation touches on over-engineered products, unnecessary technology, and the growing disconnect between how things are designed and how they’re ultimately disposed of. From smart toys and disposable electronics to the hidden costs of convenience, they question whether many so-called sustainable innovations are actually creating tomorrow’s waste problems.

They also stress that sustainability can’t sit solely with households. Without proper producer responsibility, strong regulation, and systems that support reuse and repair, individuals are left carrying the burden. Prevention — designing waste out before it exists — comes up again and again as the real priority for the year ahead.

Rubbish Rant

This week’s rant targets performative sustainability — flashy ideas, complex systems and sustainable claims that look good on paper but don’t work in practice. As Alasdair and Jane see it, 2026 doesn’t need more buzzwords or gimmicks. It needs simpler choices, clearer responsibility, and systems that actually make it easier to do the right thing.

Final thought: You don’t have to do everything in 2026 — just do something better and keep doing it.

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, Vicki brings both strategic insight and practical reality to the discussion.

Vicki reflects on her route into the waste sector, beginning with wood recycling at Hadfields and evolving into consultancy work focused on culture, leadership, permitting, and regulatory engagement. A recurring theme is that many successful waste businesses are built on strong technical ideas but struggle without the management structures and communication needed to support long-term growth. Her work now often centres on helping organisations bridge that gap, improving how teams function as much as what they deliver.

A major part of the episode explores the role of the Wood Recycling Association and the importance of the Waste Wood Classification system. Vicki explains how the sector worked collaboratively with regulators to demonstrate that most waste wood is non-hazardous, protecting vital outlets such as panel board manufacturing, biomass, and animal bedding. She outlines the grading system (A–D) and why getting classification right underpins both environmental protection and market stability across the UK.

The conversation then turns to one of the toughest years the wood recycling sector has faced. A combination of unplanned plant shutdowns, seasonal demand pressures, fires, and infrastructure outages created a perfect storm that left sites struggling to move material and, in some cases, forced wood into landfill. Vicki describes how regulators, particularly SEPA, have worked pragmatically with operators, and how Regulatory Position Statements (RPS) have been used in England to provide temporary relief — while acknowledging the limitations and stress this situation has placed on the entire system.

Looking ahead, Vicki shares her enthusiasm for her upcoming role as CIWM President, with a focus on sector attractiveness. She argues that waste and resource management is still too inward-looking and needs to better communicate its diversity of roles, from engineering and chemistry to data, design, and communications. Central to this is changing language, opening doors to early-career professionals, and making the sector visible to those who would never naturally consider “waste” as a career path.

The episode closes on a hopeful note, with a call to embed circular economy and sustainability thinking much earlier in education. Vicki shares a powerful reflection on how early learning shapes lifelong behaviour and believes engaging children with environmental responsibility could transform both society and the future workforce. Her final advice is simple but resonant: volunteer, say yes to opportunities, and don’t underestimate how skills gained today can shape careers decades later.

Useful Links 🔗

Vicki Hughes LinkedIn Profile

Wood Recyclers Association (WRA) | Wood Recyling

WRA Grades of Waste Wood April 25

Vicki is collecting stories on how people found a career in waste and why they stayed.

To take part, email [email protected] with “LOVE IT” as the subject.

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 of episodes, guests, and stats.

The quiz tested memories of some standout guests from 2025, as well as questions on listener numbers, global reach, and which episodes proved most popular — with a few surprises along the way.

Friendly rivalry quickly took over as Jane and Alasdair battled it out question by question, debating everything from cows’ teeth to recycling in the Falkland Islands. Despite some confident guesses (and a few wrong turns), it turned into a close contest right to the very end.

It’s a fun, relaxed episode that celebrates the conversations, people, and listeners that made 2025 such a strong year for the podcast. If you’ve dipped in and out of episodes — or just fancy a lighter listen — this one’s for you.

Now’s the perfect time to go back and catch up on any Rubbish Talk episodes from 2025 you might have missed.

As always, a huge thank you to everyone who tuned in, shared an episode, or got in touch over the year. Here’s to even more rubbish talk in 2026!

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 Christmas joyful and sustainable.

Topic: Recycling Smarter at Christmas

The conversation kicks off with one of Christmas’s biggest items: the tree. Jane explains that real Christmas trees can usually be recycled through council collections, household waste recycling centres, or drop-off points, where they’re chipped and composted. Alasdair adds an interesting example of councils using trees to stabilise sand dunes — a reminder that good intentions still need proper organisation. The pair also debate real versus artificial trees, agreeing that longevity matters most: an artificial tree used for 20+ years can be just as sustainable as buying real ones annually.

Wrapping paper quickly follows, with a strong message to keep things simple. Plain paper that scrunches easily is usually recyclable, while shiny, glittery or foil-lined paper isn’t. Jane shares her mum’s tradition of reusing wrapping paper year after year, while both hosts champion reusable gift bags, boxes, and even magazine pages as low-waste alternatives. Christmas cards get similar treatment — simple cards can be recycled, but anything with glitter, plastic or foil should go in general waste unless reused.

Cardboard boxes are another festive staple, and Alasdair offers a practical bin-tip: flatten cardboard and place it vertically in the bin so it empties properly — something bin crews will definitely appreciate. When it comes to food waste, both hosts stress planning, leftovers, and using food waste caddies. From turkey soup to curries and freezing leftovers, they remind listeners that food waste bins exist for a reason — especially at Christmas, when anaerobic digestion plants see a surge in rich food waste.

The episode also tackles Christmas crackers (not a fan, but tradition wins), glass bottles and jars (yes), broken glassware (no), and fairy lights. Anything with a plug or battery — including lights and toys — should never go in household bins. Jane and Alasdair repeatedly stress safe recycling of electricals and batteries, highlighting fire risks and pointing listeners toward proper take-back schemes and recycling points.

The Rubbish Rant (Festive Edition)

Without turning full Scrooge, Alasdair admits his frustration with Christmas overconsumption — the plastic “tat” that lasts minutes before becoming waste. Both hosts encourage listeners to rethink gifting: re-gifting, donating, selling online, or choosing experiences over things. As Jane puts it, “It’s about knowing your audience.” The episode ends on a warm note, thanking listeners for their support throughout the year and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas — with less waste, fuller bins (the right ones), and a bit more thought behind the wrapping.

Key Christmas Message:

You don’t need to be perfect — just be thoughtful. Reuse what you can, recycle properly, and if you don’t need it… maybe don’t buy it in the first place.

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 across the United States, where landfill remains the dominant disposal route and recycling varies dramatically by state and city. She reflects on how access, transport, and inequality shape recycling behaviour, and why data-driven research is essential if policy is going to translate into real-world change. Her work focuses on understanding how people respond to messaging, incentives, and visual cues — and why top-down systems often fail without community buy-in.

Riska, studying Global Environment, Politics and Society, offers a powerful global south perspective rooted in her work across Southeast Asia. She explains how waste management differs drastically across Indonesia’s thousands of islands, where open dumping, burning, and marine pollution remain daily realities in areas without formal collection systems. Despite this, she highlights the growing role of startups, NGOs, and community-led initiatives that are filling gaps left by government systems and driving behavioural change from the ground up.

Together, the conversation explores why behaviour change matters as much as infrastructure. Riska explains that emotional connection — not rules or fines — is often what shifts habits, pointing to images and stories that have successfully reduced single-use plastics in her region. Cait reinforces this by stressing the need for better data to understand what actually works, rather than assuming people will automatically engage with new systems.

Alasdair reflects on Scotland’s strengths — strong policy frameworks, food waste collections, and recycling infrastructure — but also its weaknesses, particularly low public participation and lack of consequences for poor waste behaviour. The discussion highlights a shared conclusion: systems alone don’t change outcomes; people do. Engagement, clarity, and responsibility are just as critical as bins, trucks, and legislation.

The episode closes with advice for anyone considering a career in waste and sustainability. Cait encourages listeners to take the leap, even if it feels daunting, while Riska reminds us that frustration is part of the job — but so is purpose. Their message is hopeful, grounded, and clear: the future of waste management depends on collaboration across borders, disciplines, and generations.

A big thank you to Jennifer Carfrae for helping set up this interview, and to Jane Bond for making the introduction. Jennifer is a previous Rubbish Talk guest from Episode 48 and leads the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy module delivered jointly by SRUC (Scotland’s Rural University College) and the University of Edinburgh.

Unfortunately, Jane was unable to join us on the day due to some technical issues — we could see her but sadly couldn’t hear her!

Useful Links:

Cait Lawson LinkedIn

Riska Hasan LinkedIn

TOPIC: The Waste Journey of Glass

With Scotland generating over 207,000 tonnes of glass waste in 2023 — but recovering only around 131,000 tonnes — there is still a huge opportunity to improve glass circularity. Jane opens with why glass recycling matters: it’s infinitely recyclable, supports the circular economy, and reduces reliance on virgin materials. But the journey is more complex than many realise.

Depending on where you live, glass might be collected kerbside (like Alasdair’s purple-lidded bin), mixed with cans and plastics (like Jane’s), or taken to bottle banks. Regardless, the ideal input is glass bottles and jars only — not Pyrex, window glass, ceramics or drinking glasses, all of which melt at different temperatures and contaminate the recycling stream.

Colour sorting remains important for closed-loop recycling, although modern facilities like Sibelco’s Newhouse plant can separate mixed glass into usable fractions. Surprising to both presenters, current market prices for clear, green, brown and mixed glass are broadly similar — raising questions about the cost–benefit of colour separation at collection.

Jane draws on her visit to the O-I glass factory, describing molten glass “dropping out in globules” before forming new bottles — a process as mesmerising as it is energy-intensive. Reprocessors can only include a certain proportion of recycled content to keep emissions manageable, balancing circularity with furnace performance.

Not all glass becomes bottles again. Some lower-grade material is turned into aggregate, sand substitute, shot-blast material or — interestingly — filtration media. Glass filters can reduce water treatment energy use, chemical demand, and fouling, making it a surprisingly high-value outlet despite its lower carbon savings.

Alasdair highlights European examples where beer bottles are standardised and endlessly reused — a system far more sustainable than recycling. Even at home, Jane recalls milk bottle return schemes as a reminder of how simple reuse can be. Could reuse make a comeback in the UK? Only if producers are pushed to redesign packaging systems.

The UK-wide DRS will exclude glass, unlike Wales, which plans to include it. That decision impacts kerbside systems, retail handling, safety concerns and producer behaviour. As Alasdair notes, omitting glass could lead to more plastic on the market — an unintended environmental consequence worth watching closely.

RUBBISH RANT: Christmas Over-Consumption

With Christmas approaching, Alasdair’s seasonal plea is simple: stop buying tat. From novelty gifts destined for the bin by January to pressure to over-consume at parties, the wastefulness is staggering.

Real or artificial trees? That debate continues, but the message remains: consume thoughtfully, reuse what you have, and resist the assumption that more stuff equals more celebration.

And a final reminder: WEEE and batteries should always be recycled properly — don’t put them in the bin. You can find out where to take them at: Recycle Your Electricals.

News Roundup

Fines for Littering From Cars Up Nearly 500% Since 2020

Jane and Alasdair welcome the dramatic rise in fines but note the bigger picture: only five fines a day across the UK — a tiny response compared to the mountains of roadside litter.

England to Ban Controversial Pay-Per-Fine Litter System

The government plans to scrap enforcement schemes where private companies profit from issuing fines. Alasdair is unmoved: the simplest way to avoid a fine remains don’t litter in the first place.

Spring 2027 Confirmed as Start Date for Ban on Plastic in Wet Wipes

After years of fatbergs, blockages and microplastic pollution, England will finally ban wet wipes containing plastic. Scotland and Northern Ireland are working toward similar bans — albeit slowly.

Scottish Council Considers Cap After One Resident Books Nearly 250 HWRC Visits

Listeners overwhelmingly agreed: 250 visits is not household use — it’s commercial activity in disguise. With ANPR tech now widely used, enforcing limits should be straightforward.

Illegal Waste Dumping Investigation Leads to Arrest

Following months of inaction, an arrest has finally been made relating to a major illegal dumping site first raised in July. The delay highlights many of the enforcement weaknesses discussed last week with barrister Samantha Riggs (Episode 86).

Major Waste Firm Warns Vapes Cause Over One Fire Per Day

Despite the ban on disposables, fires linked to lithium batteries inside vapes continue to rise. Jane and Alasdair stress that this isn’t a “vape problem” alone — any hidden battery in any electronic item poses a risk.

Topic: The Waste Journey of WEEE

The UK places around 1.65 million tonnes of electrical goods on the market each year, yet almost half of all WEEE never reaches recycling — instead being hoarded, binned, lost, or illegally exported. Jane highlights Material Focus research showing that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of reusable or recyclable electronics sit forgotten in cupboards and drawers.

Under WEEE regulations, any product with a plug, cable or battery counts as electrical waste. Producers must register, report tonnages, and pay for recycling — usually via a compliance scheme. But as Alasdair notes, the regulations were written in 2007 and haven’t kept pace with today’s battery-powered gadgets, smart devices and embedded electronics. Even novelty Christmas antlers with light-up LEDs technically fall under WEEE, yet most people throw them in the bin.

The episode also walks through practical recycling steps: retailers must offer take-back when selling new items, HWRCs accept everything from kettles to TVs, and tools like Material Focus’ Hypnocat search tool help householders find drop-off points. Alasdair tested it himself while trying to recycle his broken kettle — and found it far more reliable than Amazon’s own guidance.

At authorised treatment facilities, items are dismantled, hazards removed, batteries extracted, and materials shredded and separated. But many products — from toys to laptops — make battery removal so difficult that operators resort to hammers. This design-for-disposal failure is a major barrier to safe recycling.

Alasdair and Jane conclude that while the system is workable, it’s outdated. Without better producer responsibility, improved design standards, and stronger communication to the public, WEEE recycling will remain a bottleneck in the UK’s circular economy.

Rubbish Rant: Producers, Wet Wipes, and Christmas Tat

This week’s rant is firmly aimed at producers — especially those flooding the market with disposable tech, plastic-filled wet wipes, and seasonal “electrical tat” guaranteed to break before New Year. Alasdair calls for manufacturers to take real responsibility for end-of-life environmental impacts, and Jane notes the ongoing confusion caused when neither producers nor retailers explain proper disposal routes.

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 — and she also happens to be a long-time Rubbish Talk listener.

Samantha’s legal career began in fraud, including notable cases like hallmarking scams in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and even a nine-month trial involving a man posing as an MI5 officer — the subject of Netflix’s “Rogue Agent”. Eventually she moved away from lengthy fraud trials and into environmental regulation, a field she found far more meaningful and intellectually engaging. She has now specialised in waste for over 12 years.

Much of the discussion centres on the major illegal waste sites emerging across England, including high-profile cases like Hodes Wood and Kiddlington, where tens of thousands of tonnes of waste were deposited illegally despite the regulator being aware months earlier. Samantha explains why frustration is growing within the regulated industry: compliant operators face scrutiny for minor issues while enormous illegal sites flourish unchecked.

She highlights a critical question raised in the House of Lords inquiry into waste crime — if the Environment Agency knew these sites were active in July, why were restriction orders not issued until October? With mountains of waste reaching 30,000–50,000 tonnes, public concern is justified, especially when residents were swimming downstream of sites later found to contain contaminated waste.

Samantha emphasises that the regulator doesn’t need more authority — it already has extensive powers to restrict sites, seize vehicles, question suspects, and shut down illegal operations. The real issue is that these powers aren’t being used effectively. Slow action, weak coordination and unclear accountability mean illegal sites can operate long after being identified. As Samantha notes, the legislation is strong, but the system lacks the drive and structure to enforce it — a concern also highlighted in the recent Lords inquiry.

Samantha explains that sentencing law in England and Wales allows courts to recover full cleanup costs, remove illegal profits, and issue prison sentences of up to five years. Yet many cases never include cleanup cost submissions, and financial investigations are often skipped — meaning fines reflect what offenders claim to earn rather than what they actually gained. According to Samantha, the problem isn’t the sentencing framework but inconsistent application and a lack of specialist understanding within the system.

The conversation also dives into landfill tax fraud, blurred lines between legitimate operators and organised crime, and how producer pressure to keep costs low fuels illegal activity. Samantha stresses that digital waste tracking will help compliant businesses but won’t stop criminals who already avoid paperwork. Ultimately, she argues that England needs independent oversight — similar to Scotland’s split between SEPA and the Procurator Fiscal — because the Environment Agency currently investigates, prosecutes and effectively judges cases with little external scrutiny.

Useful Links:

Independent review on waste crime needed following multiple failures and lack of action

House of lords letter regarding Waste crime enquiry

The National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group

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.

Check out our TikTok for a behind-the-scenes look at our trip to London and the moment we won! 

Fly-tippers Bury Oxfordshire Field in ‘Shocking’ Waste Mountain 
A 150-metre-long, 6-metre-high mound of illegally dumped waste has been discovered — and the cleanup is estimated to cost more than an entire council’s annual budget. With machinery clearly involved, this wasn’t a one-night job… raising big questions about enforcement and the growing gap between legal operators and criminal dumpers. 

Planet Protector Group: Sheep Wool Replacing Polystyrene? 
In Australia, wool is being transformed into high-performance, climate-friendly packaging insulation. Handling 150 tonnes a week, the product keeps temperatures below –20°C for up to 144 hours and could replace thousands of tonnes of polystyrene. Proof that nature-based solutions can beat plastic — and sometimes outperform petrochemical alternatives. 

Flintshire’s New Bin System Cuts 3,000 Tonnes of Waste to EfW 
A move to three-weekly bin collections has boosted recycling in Flintshire, with 3,000 fewer tonnes sent to the energy-from-waste plant compared to last year. While great news, Jane and Alasdair can’t help wondering—did all that extra material go into recycling streams… or end up in a field in Oxfordshire? 

A Data Centre in a Garden Shed? Yes—And It Heats the House 
A pilot “Heat Hub” project is using small data centres placed in garden outbuildings to heat nearby homes using waste heat from computers. Alasdair loves it: warm homes + local data storage + waste heat recovery = circular economy magic. 

Woman Fined £1,000 for ‘Fly-tipping Envelope’ 
At first glance, it sounded harsh. But the photos revealed the envelope was placed on top of a pile of dumped cardboard, not in a bin. As Alasdair says: personal responsibility matters — adding to someone else’s mess is still adding to the mess. 

Topic of the Week: The Waste Journey of Paper & Cardboard 

This week, Alasdair and Jane dive into the surprisingly complex world of paper and cardboard recycling — a material that most of us assume is straightforward, but which comes with its own challenges, contamination issues, and global markets. 

The UK produces 6.5 million tonnes of paper and card each year. Roughly half is recycled domestically, and the other half is exported to Europe, India, and Southeast Asia — with prices rising and falling depending on global demand. Baled cardboard earns roughly £110 per tonne and paper around £150 per tonne, but contamination can quickly turn revenue into cost. 

Using insights from industry expert Rod Patterson (Episode 66), the hosts break down the full recycling process. First stop: the MRF, where contamination remains a huge issue — nearly 20% of Scotland’s paper/card stream is non-recyclable material such as plastic, food, shredded paper, nappies, and even dog waste. Once baled, material is shipped to paper mills, where it's mixed with water to form pulp, screened, cleaned, rolled, dried, and turned back into new paper products. 

It’s a surprisingly energy- and water-intensive process — the pulp can travel 400–500 metres through a mill, losing 93% of its water along the way — but the end result is one of the true circular success stories. Paper and card become… more paper and card. No downcycling required. 

Jane reminds listeners that twin-stream collections in many councils have already improved quality, and simple household habits can make a real difference. 

As Alasdair sums up: “Paper and card is one of the materials that genuinely gets recycled. We just need to help the process along by keeping the wrong things out.” 

News Roundup

Resident books nearly 250 recycling centre visits in one year

A BBC story revealed that one enthusiastic recycler made 249 bookings at their local HWRC in a year. Jane and Alasdair found it both amusing and revealing — highlighting how booking systems give councils better data but can also expose overuse, potential trade waste, or simply that some residents just love a good chat at the tip.

Provisional pEPR charges for 2026 published

DEFRA has released provisional Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) charges for 2026, and the pair reflect on the implications. Alasdair warns that because the new funds aren’t ring-fenced, councils might absorb them into general budgets rather than improving recycling. Jane raises concerns over increased costs being passed to consumers — but both agree that forcing producers to design more recyclable packaging could drive real change.

Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations update

SEPA’s new Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) came into effect on 1 November 2025. Jane reminds operators to check the updated guidance and notes that SEPA is even advertising on the radio to raise awareness. Alasdair adds that while the new online system has a few teething issues, it’s a step toward a clearer, more digital approach to environmental compliance.

What is COP30 and why does it matter for climate change?

With COP30 taking place in Brazil next year — 10 years after the Paris Agreement — the hosts question whether the 1.5°C goal is still achievable. They note that major emitters like the US are stepping back from participation and reflect on how global policy momentum feels to be stalling. “It’s gone on the back burner,” says Jane, though both hope renewed focus will emerge around circular economy solutions.

Alasdair on BBC Good Morning Scotland: Landfill Ban Delay

Alasdair appeared on BBC Good Morning Scotland to discuss the two-year delay to Scotland’s landfill ban. He argued that while the extension gives councils breathing room, it risks undermining investment and progress in recycling infrastructure. His key point: if Scotland simply recycled materials properly, the savings to the economy could be significant — and the environmental benefits even greater.

Topic: Waste Reprocessing Capacity in Scotland

The main topic this week delves into the Scottish Government’s Waste Reprocessing Capacity Report, produced under the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024. Alasdair and Jane unpack what the data actually tells us — and what it doesn’t.

The report identifies 169 licensed reprocessing sites with another 14 planned, but Jane questions how many are truly “reprocessing” rather than simply sorting and baling materials for export. Together, they examine key waste streams — from plastics and metals to glass, wood, textiles and organics — revealing a mixed picture of progress.

Success stories include glass (thanks to facilities like the plant at Alloa) and construction waste, where most concrete and aggregates are reused domestically.

Major gaps remain in plastics, paper, textiles, and electronics — where most materials are exported rather than recycled in Scotland. Even wood and food waste processing rely on a limited number of certified sites, far below what’s needed for future demand.

They also highlight emerging challenges with batteries, wind turbines, and mattresses, where infrastructure is scarce or non-existent. “It’s mad,” says Alasdair, “we’ve had wind turbines for decades, but still no national strategy for recycling them.”

Their conclusion? Scotland’s circular economy ambitions hinge on domestic reprocessing investment — not just collection targets. As Jane puts it, “We start strong on strategy, but we never seem to finish. The market waits for certainty, and by the time it arrives, we’ve already kicked the can down the road.”