You're sure to crack a smile or let out a laugh in this week’s Trash Talk with Trista episode featuring Sheletta Brundidge, founder of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh. Trista and Sheletta chat about the power of humor and storytelling. These tools, especially when paired together, can make even the most complex topics, like waste and recycling, easier to understand.  

Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson, Trash Talk with Trista is a podcast dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Available anywhere you find podcasts. 

Learn more about Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. 

Check out Sheletta’s work at ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com.  

On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Sigurd Scheurle, a retired planning director at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to talk about the history of waste management in Minnesota and what we’ve learned along the way.

From the Waste Management Act and the environmental impacts of landfilling to the role of waste-to-energy, Sigurd shares how Minnesota’s past can help shape a better approach to managing waste in the future. Find out on this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson.  

This podcast is dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Available anywhere you find podcasts. 

More information:  

Once you finish your dill pickle lemonade, where do you put your cup? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Cory Franzmeier from the Minnesota State Fair and Megan Dobratz from Native Sustainability to discuss the management of trash, recycling and organics at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.  

Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson, Trash Talk with Trista is a podcast dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts. 

Learn more about Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. 

Andy Weins rejects the idea of "junk" - that the things we throw away have no value. His company used to be called Camo Crew Junk Removal, until he realized how much of what they hauled was valuable material that could be used again. He rebranded it as Camo Crew Responsible Removal. In 2025, they recovered 82% of materials that many companies would send straight to a landfill. 

In this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Andy to talk about his path to becoming a waste industry leader, business owner and advocate for rebranding waste as a resource. 

Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson, Trash Talk with Trista is a podcast dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Available anywhere you find podcasts. 

Learn more about Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. 

Did you know that Germany is considered one of the world’s leaders in waste reduction and recycling? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with R&E’s German interns, Sophia Fiswick and Lasse Radke, to discuss how Germany approaches waste management, the cultural differences surrounding recycling and what the U.S. can learn from waste systems around the world. 

Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson, Trash Talk with Trista is a podcast dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Available anywhere you find podcasts. 

Learn more about Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. 

What if the future of waste management isn’t just about recycling more, it’s about rethinking everything we throw away? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Jennefer Klennert of HDR to explore the trends shaping the future of the waste industry, from smarter technology and safer facilities to reuse, waste-to-energy and the policies driving innovation. Together, they discuss why modern waste infrastructure matters, how communities can reduce what ends up in landfills and what it takes to build a more sustainable materials management system for the future.  

Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson, Trash Talk with Trista is a podcast dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Available anywhere you find podcasts. 

Learn more about Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. 

Learn more about waste-to-energy: https://recyclingandenergy.org/about-waste-to-energy/ 

Did you know that a single waste-related bill at the Capitol can impact everything from worker safety to how communities manage trash for decades? On this episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Minnesota State Representative Wayne Johnson to discuss the waste and recycling legislation introduced during the 2026 Minnesota legislative session, what it takes to move policy forward and why waste policy matters to every Minnesotan.  

Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson, Trash Talk with Trista is a podcast dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Available anywhere you find podcasts.

Learn more about Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. 

Did you know that Ramsey and Washington counties manage trash differently than most counties in Minnesota? On the very first episode of Trash Talk with Trista, Trista sits down with Karla Bigham, Washington County Commissioner and R&E Board member, to discuss how Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy was formed, what the organization has accomplished over the past 10 years and how the two counties work together to responsibly manage waste. From recycling and food scraps programs to energy recovery and long-term planning, the conversation explores how local decisions shape the future of trash and sustainability in our region.  

Hosted by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy’s Executive Director, Trista Martinson, Trash Talk with Trista is a podcast dedicated to waste management – from the tipping floor to the future of responsible waste policy. Available anywhere you find podcasts. 

Learn more about Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. 

Learn more about the Food Scraps Pickup Program.