Talking Rubbish - Recycled Content

Keys have evolved from wood to metals like bronze and iron, with modern keys now typically made from durable, rust-resistant brass alloys. Because they’re not usually recyclable at home, old keys are best taken to a mixed metal recycling bin after removing any identifying tags. Their brass construction makes them strong yet soft enough to avoid damaging locks, and if you’d rather reuse them, they can even find a second life in art projects, as makeshift tools, or other creative DIY uses.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 56 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 21st August 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

A listener got in touch after spotting a granola pouch labelled “100% recyclable from home” despite their local council not accepting flexible plastics in household recycling. After querying the manufacturer, they received a vague response suggesting the packaging was recyclable “by most councils” or at supermarket collection points. This is exactly the kind of confusing messaging we see all the time, often from smaller brands that mean well but don’t understand the rules around recycling claims. In the UK, the “Recycle” label should only be used for packaging collected by more than 75% of councils. Flexible plastic should instead say something like “Recycle with bags at large supermarkets.” While Trading Standards covers some packaging issues, misleading environmental claims like this fall under the ASA and the Green Claims Code.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 54 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 7th August 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Play-Doh started life in the 1930s as a wallpaper cleaner, invented by Noah McVicker before his nephew turned it into a children’s toy. Today it’s owned by Hasbro, and while the company says it’s mainly made from flour, salt and water, commercial Play-Doh also contains preservatives, which probably means it belongs in general waste rather than food waste. Homemade is different though, if it’s just flour, salt, water and oil, it’s basically food ingredients, so food waste is usually fine. Bonus tip: store it in ziplock bags or old yoghurt pots to keep it fresh for longer.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 54 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 7th August 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Ever noticed the small gaps in the thread of a fizzy drinks bottle? They’re designed to let pressure safely vent as you unscrew the cap. They became a news story after Walmart recalled around 850,000 reusable bottles that allegedly lacked this safety feature, with reports that pressurised lids caused serious eye injuries. A tiny bit of bottle design that turns out to be really important.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 53 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 31st July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Cheese wax is a surprisingly tricky waste item. Babybel’s paraffin-based wax isn’t recyclable at home, although the company runs a Terracycle scheme that accepts everything from the wax to the nets and labels. Interestingly, under UK law, cheese wax isn’t even classed as packaging, because it’s considered part of the product itself rather than just something used to contain it.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 53 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 31st July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

When it comes to recycling cardboard with tape attached, the adhesive itself is the main issue, particularly for flexible plastic recyclers, who generally don’t want it. The best practice, if you want to be extra conscientious, is to remove the tape and place it in general waste, which makes things easier for paper recyclers. That said, paper recycling facilities can usually handle tape during processing, where it’s washed off and ultimately incinerated. There’s also growing discussion around paper tape alternatives, some can be successfully recovered and recycled, while others cannot, highlighting the need for better standardisation across the industry. For now, the practical approach is often to leave both plastic and paper tape attached.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 52 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 24th July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

This episode tackles a common question; are sandwich packs actually recyclable? The discussion breaks down how mixed-material packaging works, whether plastic windows need to be removed, and why food contamination can make recycling more difficult. A practical, light-hearted look at the small recycling decisions people make every day and the confusion around what can really go in the bin.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 52 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 24th July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Do we actually need bin liners at all? Some people put loose rubbish straight into the wheelie bin to avoid adding more plastic to the waste stream, and found many councils don’t require bags. But in Cornwall, residents are told all waste must be contained in a sack before collection. So why the difference? And as mandatory food waste collections expand, could we one day stop selling bin liners altogether, except perhaps for food caddies?

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 51 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 17th July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

This episode explores whether cocktail sticks, toothpicks and wooden skewers can actually be recycled. Although they’re usually made from birch wood, their small size means they are unlikely to be accepted in household recycling collections and can easily fall through sorting equipment. We look at why home composting is often the best option, whether they can be taken to wood recycling at the tip, and how vague “recyclable” claims online can sometimes create more confusion than clarity. 

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 51 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 17th July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Do you need to remove security tags and anti-theft stickers from packaging before recycling? After a visit to Bristol Waste’s new materials recycling facility, we got the answer directly from the sorting line, and the good news is that these metal security labels are usually fine to leave on, as they are removed during the recycling process. 

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 49 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 3rd July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

We would love you to join our community on Discord

Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety

To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads or Facebook; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube: @talkingrubbishpodcast

Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address [email protected] or by texting them via WhatsApp on 07356 069 232

Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF