Nature N8 goes on “Taiwan Insider” to explain how Taiwan turned a 70% waste collection rate into a 60% recycling rate in less than a generation. Starting with an explanation in 60 seconds of how Taiwan fixed its trash problem, N8 and “Taiwan Insider” host Andrew Ryan then go on to talk about garbage trucks, podcasts, and WNWN itself.      

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer, editor | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

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From bio-bags that survive landfills for years to bio-plastics that are actually just polyester, we are awash in confusing disposal messaging. The world is rejecting plastics, but in the quest for an alternative are we actually making things worse? Join Nature N8 and Emily as they sift through “biodegradable” plastics.

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer, editor | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

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In 2014, IKEA was among the founding members of a global campaign to get the world’s most influential businesses to use 100% renewable power. Known as the RE100, today it’s a consortium of 186 (and counting) companies, including H&M, Nestle, Apple, Google, Facebook, Walmart, Coca Cola, Goldman Sachs, and many more. In total, their electricity demand is approximately 200 terawatts hours - just slightly larger than the electricity demand of Thailand.

Today, we talk to Sam Kimmins, head of RE100. Sam has 20 years experience leading sustainability projects in the shipping, aviation, food, construction, and NGO sectors. 

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer, editor | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

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Scientists have seen our brains shrink from long-term exposure to dirty air. In this episode we think through air pollution in a different way. What’s the newest science saying about the health impact of smog? How is new technology changing this field of study? Do face masks actually work? How do you pick air filters?

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer, editor | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part 2 of our series on electric vehicles, we focus on light EV and its battery infrastructure. We continue our conversation with Daniel Vickery, head of engineering of batteries and energy systems at Gogoro, the electric scooter company. We nerd out on batteries and how to design better cities, and we go behind the scenes with Daniel and find out how someone can engineer for good.

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer, editor | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

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Electric vehicles (EV) have made a comeback since the great EV failures of the 1990's. Today, ten countries and a handful of cities around the world have planned total ban on combustion engines. The hope is that EV's would help reduce air pollution and oil consumption. But are EV’s actually good for the environment? What about our anxieties over their range? The batteries don’t last, right? They’re too expensive, right?

We speak to Mark Maynard, an automotive editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune who was among the first test drivers of a pilot EV program, "EV1" by General Motors in the 1990's. We also hear from Daniel Vickery, head of engineering of batteries and energy systems at Gogoro, a Taiwanese electric scooter company.

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. Send questions to [email protected]. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack.

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer, editor | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plastic straws are everywhere. Governments and corporations are beginning to enact straw bans. That's good, right? But does banning plastic straws really help the worst of plastic pollution? In this episode we look at the real damage from straws, and why the most popular strawlternative is actually worse than plastic. We also hear from a local business in Taipei, Ooh Cha Cha, and its founder Mai Bach on how they phased out plastic straws, and what a national ban on plastic straws may mean for businesses.

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Emily Cardinali (@emilycardinali), editor | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corals are dying. By 2050 we probably won’t have any corals left in our oceans. But a really cool thing about coral is that it regenerates if we give it the opportunity to. So scientists around the world are trying to figure out how to regrow coral reefs, and some have even turned to 3D printing for coral restoration. But is this possible? Can technology save corals?  This is a podcast about how NOT to save the environment. Hosted by Nature N8 (Nate Maynard), an environmental researcher working on energy, ocean, and waste issues.

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Emily Cardinali (@emilycardinali), editor | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017, 20-million pounds of litter was collected around the world on International Coastal Cleanup day. Do beach clean ups actually work? And if not, why do we even do beach cleanups? Are we just wasting our time? Should we be doing something else? This is a podcast about how NOT to save the environment. Hosted by Nature N8 (Nate Maynard), an environmental researcher working on energy, ocean, and waste issues.

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes. 

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Emily Cardinali (@emilycardinali), editor | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this maiden voyage episode, we give you a sampling of the greatest viral hits of green-wash, to let you know what to expect on this journey into the heart of greenness. This is the first episode of Waste Not Why Not, a podcast about how NOT to save the environment.

Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. View show notes.

EPISODE CREDIT | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), producer | Nate Maynard (@N8May), producer, host | Emily Cardinali (@emilycardinali), editor | Chris Lo, theme song | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.