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

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Fires at waste and recycling sites are becoming increasingly common, with batteries, vapes and gas canisters ending up where they shouldn’t. In this episode, we look at why our bins now contain more energy than ever before, why awareness alone doesn’t seem to be solving the problem, and how these fires could make recycling increasingly expensive. Plus, we discuss a deposit return scheme we can actually get behind: a £5 deposit on vapes.

Plus, are pregnancy tests rubbish or not, will BuzzBallz be included in a deposit return scheme, how will honey be packaged in our dream shop, and is fly tipping really cheaper than littering?

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 our bins keep catching fire - 00:55
Additions and corrections - 23:04
Rubbish or Not: pregnancy tests - 31:26
Rubbish News - 37:47
Are BuzzBallz in scope for deposit return schemes? - 44:43
Green Grocer: honey - 49:26
Residual Rubbish - 54:03

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Could your fridge actually be causing food waste? This week, we explore the psychology behind the modern fridge, why bigger shelves and hidden drawers can encourage us to buy more than we need, and how simply forgetting what's at the back may be responsible for more waste than food actually going off. We also discuss whether smart fridges are really the answer, or just another gadget promising to solve the wrong problem.

Plus, are cable ties rubbish or not, should we just ban flexible plastic, how will cereal be packaged in our dream shop, and how can a reusable cup spiral into an embarrassing lie?

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 your fridge is making you waste food - 02:01
Additions and corrections - 26:31
Rubbish or Not: cable ties - 33:06
Rubbish News - 36:26
Should we just ban flexible plastic? - 42:23
Green Grocer: cereal - 46:55
Residual Rubbish - 52:19

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Food waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges we rarely talk about, with the average UK household throwing away around £1,000 worth of perfectly good food every year. In this episode, we are joined by Tessa Clarke, co-founder of Olio, to explore how a simple idea has grown into a global community redistributing millions of meals. We discuss why so much food is wasted at home, what businesses and governments could do differently, and how technology is helping connect neighbours to save food, money and emissions.

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

In 2022, the Government committed to introducing kerbside collections for flexible plastics by 2027. Last week, that deadline was pushed back to 2030, a decision that has left James and Robbie, who have spent years preparing for the original timeline, deeply frustrated. In this episode, we unpack what the delay means for one of the UK's most challenging waste streams, why it matters for consumers and the recycling industry, and how postponing collections could create a vicious cycle that holds back recycling rather than accelerating it.

Plus, is a paper coffee cup rubbish or not, is a nitrous oxide canister packaging, how will instant coffee be packaged in our dream supermarket, and why does James never redeem his free coffee in Starbucks?

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 we may never recycle flexible plastic - 01:50
Additions and corrections - 32:33
Rubbish or Not: paper coffee cups - 38:37
Rubbish News - 43:58
Are nitrous oxide canisters packaging? - 48:14
Green Grocer: instant coffee - 51:13
Residual Rubbish - 54:56

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 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Forever chemicals have become a major focus in the media, with growing concern about PFAS turning up in our food, drinking water, and everyday products. But how much of the alarm is justified? How real are the risks, and is this something that should change the way we live, or is the picture more complicated than the headlines suggest?

Plus, is a zip lock bag rubbish or not, will PPWR stifle innovation, how will baked beans be packaged in our dream supermarket, and are we really a fancy dress option?

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:
PFAS - what you need to know about forever chemicals - 02:41
Additions and corrections - 33:18
Rubbish or Not: zip lock bags - 38:37
Rubbish News - 42:36
Will PPWR stifle innovation? - 47:34
Green Grocer: baked beans - 51:17
Residual Rubbish - 54:29

Send us a message directly…

 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Last month Adidas, Uniqlo, and Calvin Klein all came under scrutiny for making misleading environmental claims. What did they actually say and what do these cases reveal about the future of sustainability marketing? This week, we take a deeper look at greenwashing, unpacking why environmental claims in the fashion industry are so difficult to get right. We explore what brands can learn and how sustainability messaging will need to change in the years ahead.

Plus, is a BBQ regulator rubbish or not, why is Sainsbury's moving to white eggs, how will toothpaste be packaged in our dream supermarket, and are we boring for wanting our lettuce to look like...lettuce?

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:
What Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein got wrong - 02:47
Additions and corrections - 31:57
Rubbish or Not: BBQ regulator - 36:15
Rubbish News - 41:10
Why are Sainsbury's switching to white eggs? - 45:10
Green Grocer: toothpaste - 48:07
Residual Rubbish - 52:45

Send us a message directly…

 Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL