Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

The Conservatives have pledged to scrap what they're calling Labour's packaging tax, despite having introduced the policy themselves. But would abolishing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) really save shoppers money, or simply shift the cost of dealing with packaging waste back to taxpayers? Is the system delivering value for money, does it need reform, or should it be scrapped altogether?

Plus, are golf balls rubbish or not, is it worth storing bottles and cans now to claim the deposit next year, how will grapes be packaged in our dream shop, and why is James decorating his house with glitter?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
The Conservatives want to scrap the packaging tax - 01:00
Additions and corrections - 27:35
Rubbish or Not: golf balls - 34:01
Rubbish News - 41:23
Should you save up drinks containers now to claim a deposit next year? - 45:59
Green Grocer: grapes - 49:15
Residual Rubbish - 55:04

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

What happens when packaging promotions go horribly wrong? This week, James and Robbie explore some of the most spectacular marketing disasters in history. From Coca-Cola’s spring-loaded MagiCans and BrewDog’s not-so-solid gold cans to the Pepsi fighter jet that ended up in court, a bottle cap competition with devastating consequences, and the extraordinary fraud behind McDonald’s Monopoly. It turns out that once a promotion is out in the world, things can go very wrong, and putting them right isn't always easy.

Plus, are award trophies rubbish or not, does a lot of  sorting put people off recycling, how will instant noodles be packaged in our dream shop, and why is James going to always carry a pack of Smints with him?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
When packaging promotions go horribly wrong - 02:44
Additions and corrections - 26:50
Rubbish or Not: award trophies - 33:35
Rubbish News - 37:47
Does a lot of sorting put people off recycling? - 43:51
Green Grocer: instant noodles - 49:40
Residual Rubbish - 54:14

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

After four episodes digging into deposit return schemes, we sit down with Julian Hunt from Exchange for Change to put some of our biggest questions directly to the organisation delivering the UK’s DRS. We discuss why drinks containers were chosen, whether DRS really reduces litter, how the 20p deposit was set, what happens to reverse vending machines at end of life, who is actually paying to get the scheme off the ground, and whether local authorities could lose out as valuable cans and bottles leave kerbside collections. James also pitches his four-glasses-of-wine solution to DRS funding, and Julian tells us just how confident he is that everything will be ready for launch in October 2027.

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Send us a message directly…

 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Norway gets around 98% of its bottles and cans back, so what makes its deposit return scheme work so well? This week, we unpack a system that is technically voluntary, yet has become one of the most successful in the world. We explore the tax that gives producers a huge incentive to hit their targets, the thousands of places consumers can return their drinks containers, what happens to all those bottles and cans once they’re collected, and whether convenience, money or Norwegian culture is really the secret to getting almost everything back.

Plus, are oven gloves rubbish or not, which supermarket meal deal has the least packaging, how will yoghurt be packaged in our dream shop, and why do we owe Smint an apology?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
How Norway gets 98% of its bottles and cans back - 01:33
Additions and corrections - 26:50
Rubbish or Not: oven gloves - 32:40
Rubbish News - 35:56
Which supermarket meal deal has the least packaging? - 42:35
Green Grocer: yoghurt - 50:58
Residual Rubbish - 55:07

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

What if you could get your 20p deposit back without ever leaving the house? This week, we explore digital deposit return and why the seemingly simple idea of scanning a bottle or can and putting it in your recycling bin gets complicated very quickly. We look at the challenges of making DRS digital, the trials already taking place around the world, and whether the UK could be building one of the last generations of manual deposit return systems.

Plus, are swimming caps rubbish or not, what happens to old household bins, how will stock be packaged in our dream shop, and why is James unusually angry at Lego?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
Why can't we just make deposit return digital? - 00:58
Additions and corrections - 28:02
Rubbish or Not: swimming caps - 34:38
Rubbish News - 39:09
What happens to old household bins? - 45:43
Green Grocer: stock - 48:01
Residual Rubbish - 55:40

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Why might the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme be free for drinks brands for its first 15 months? We dig into the surprising finances behind DRS, from producer fees and the value of recycled material to the huge sums generated by unclaimed 20p deposits. Using Ireland’s scheme and the UK Government’s own forecasts, we ask who will really pay for DRS, why lower return rates can actually make the system more money, and whether there’s an uncomfortable tension at the heart of how the scheme is funded.

Plus, is Smint packaging rubbish or not, which council provides the highest quantity of bins, how will tomato ketchup be packaged in our dream shop, and why are James and Robbie excited about reusable packaging?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

To see James and Robbie live at London Packaging Week, get your free ticket here. 

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
Why the UK Deposit Return Scheme is free for brands - 01:00
Additions and corrections - 30:45
Rubbish or Not: Smint container - 35:53
Rubbish News - 40:37
Which council provides the highest quantity of bins? - 44:49
Green Grocer: tomato ketchup - 50:31
Residual Rubbish - 55:54

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Deposit return schemes can deliver impressive recycling rates. With that in mind, what can we learn from countries already using them? Following a trip to Ireland, James shares his experience of the country’s DRS, from the ease of spotting return points to the unexpected economy created by putting a value on bottles and cans. We look at what Ireland gets right, some of the unintended consequences, and what the UK could learn ahead of its own scheme launching in 2027.

Plus, are arcade tickets rubbish or not, why do we need a recycling label when everything will be recyclable, how will butter be packaged in our dream shop, and why are James and Robbie worried about being accused of being polyester?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

To see James and Robbie live at London Packaging Week, get your free ticket here. 

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
When does a deposit return scheme become a tax? - 1:36
Additions and corrections - 28:45
Rubbish or Not: arcade tickets - 35:10
Rubbish News - 39:59
Do we need recycling labels if PPWR requires everything to be recyclable? - 46:52
Green Grocer: butter - 49:23
Residual Rubbish - 55:13

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

How do you talk about environmental issues without preaching, oversimplifying or making people feel powerless? In this episode, we are joined by environmental journalist and broadcaster Lucy Siegle to explore what she’s learned from more than 20 years communicating sustainability. We discuss whether focusing on systemic change was really a mistake, why recycling can be a gateway to much bigger environmental issues, whether our obsession with plastic has gone too far, and why none of us needs to be perfectly green.

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Send us a message directly…

 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Recycling labels are about to change, but will they actually make recycling easier? In this episode, we look at the EU’s plans for harmonised packaging labels, including a proposed system of 24 different pictograms. Harmonisation sounds like a good idea, but what happens when those labels appear on packaging in the UK without matching labels on our bins? And are we moving from a simple instruction telling us what to do with our packaging, to a system that simply tells us what it’s made from?

Plus, are vapes rubbish or not, how much household flexible plastic is actually recycled, how will sandwiches be packaged in our dream shop, and why has James found a security breach in some litter?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
Why recycling labels are about to get more confusing - 1:40
Additions and corrections - 20:45
Rubbish or Not: vapes - 27:00
Rubbish News - 35:16
How much household flexible plastic is actually recycled? - 44:02
Green Grocer: sandwiches - 45:57
Residual Rubbish - 53:19

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

The UK is sending huge amounts of plastic waste to Turkey, but what actually happens to it when it gets there? We dig into the numbers behind the headlines to find out what we're really exporting, why Turkey has become such a major destination, and how much actually comes from our household recycling. It turns out the story isn't simply about waste being dumped overseas. Turkey has a huge recycling industry, but new research from Adana raises a more complicated question; what happens when our plastic is recycled, but the recycling process itself creates pollution?

Plus, are solar eclipse glasses rubbish or not, is washing recycling pointless, how will bread be packaged in our dream shop, and how much toothpaste did Robbie have left in the tube?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

Please take a moment to complete the Simpler Recycling tracker

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, 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

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

Transcripts and episodes can be found on the Talking Rubbish website

Timestamps:
Why are we sending so much plastic to Turkey - 01:32
Additions and corrections - 24:16
Rubbish or Not: solar eclipse glasses - 31:54
Rubbish News - 36:18
Is washing recycling pointless? - 41:10
Green Grocer: bread - 46:59
Residual Rubbish - 52:25

Send us a message directly…

 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL