The recycling league tables are in! Recycling rates are on the rise, but there is a twist; the actual amount of packaging being recycled is going down. Confused? So were we. In this episode, we unpack this surprising contradiction and dive into the data. Which regions in England are leading the charge, and which are falling behind? And more importantly, why? Plus, we explore the sorting of textiles, are Calpol syringes rubbish or not and can you recycle broken glass?

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.

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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 are textiles sorted? - 11:23
Who is the best recycler in England - 18:11
Rubbish or Not: Calpol syringes - 42:02
Can you recycle broken glass? - 46:04

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Happy National Pet Day! In this special episode, we're celebrating our beloved furry companions while exploring how to care for them in a more eco-friendly way. From sustainable pet diets to the best plastics for waste disposal, we’ll share simple tips to reduce your pet’s pawprint on the planet. Plus, how are pet food pouches recycled, are dog toys rubbish or not and can you compost dog poo?

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.

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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 are pet food pouches recycled? - 13:15
How can we reduce our pet's carbon pawprint - 22:32
Rubbish or Not: dog toys - 45:37
Should we compost pet poo? - 50:04

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Despite years of effort, reusable cup initiatives have struggled to break through, often dismissed as 'interesting but not scalable'. Some coffee shops have even banned single-use cups, only to watch their sales drop. So, what’s really holding reuse back? And can we ever make it the norm? In this episode, we dive into the successes, setbacks, and lessons learned from the push for reusables, and explore whether a waste-free coffee culture is truly within reach. Plus, how are textiles collected, are magnets rubbish or not and how could EPR improve reuse?

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.

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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 are textiles collected? - 11:57
How to make reusable coffee cups work - 16:53
Rubbish or Not: magnets - 47:57
How could EPR improve reuse? - 50:17

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

This week on the podcast, James and Robbie dive deeper into the world of coffee cups with special guest Rob Tilsley from James Cropper, a UK pioneer in coffee cup recycling. Together, they unpack the hidden economics behind plastic-lined cups versus innovative new coatings, reveal how brands and retailers have been quietly working to collect our used cups for longer than we realise, and uncover the surprising reason Christmas brings a wave of pink cardboard.

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.

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

We get through a staggering 3.2 billion single-use paper coffee cups every year and most of us assume they’re easily recyclable. But the reality? It’s not that simple. In this episode, we unpack why coffee cups are so hard to recycle, why they need to be collected separately, and what role those tricky plastic coatings play. Listen to find out what you should be doing with your cup once you’ve finished that double espresso. Plus, how are lightbulbs recycled, are hot water bottles rubbish or not and how does mixing waste affect recycling rates?

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.

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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 are lightbulbs recycled? - 12:10
Why your coffee cup isn't recycled - 19:35
Rubbish or Not: hot water bottles - 48:51
Does mixing waste affect recycling rates? - 53:29

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Ocean plastic pollution is a massive problem, but it’s even worse than we think. Many imagine vast islands of floating rubbish, easy to scoop up and remove. The reality? Most of it is nearly invisible, scattered from the surface to the deepest trenches. On today’s episode of Talking Rubbish, we uncover the shocking truth about ocean plastic and why cleaning it up is far more complicated than it seems. Plus, how are lightbulbs collected, are tomato purée tubes rubbish or not and how will Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) affect smaller companies?

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.

We would love you to join our community on Discord

To watch “Smog of the Sea”, click here

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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 are lightbulbs collected? - 14:13
Why you can't visit the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? - 23:18
Rubbish or Not: tomato purée tubes - 47:06
How will EPR affect small businesses? - 50:56

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

It was only a matter of time before a Trump policy made its way onto Talking Rubbish, his ‘BACK TO PLASTIC’ post on social media sealed the deal. This week, we’re diving into the much-vilified drinking straw. What’s the best material for it? Is there any logic in returning to plastic? And why are we so strangely obsessed with straws in the first place? Plus, how are tyres recycled, are glass candle holders rubbish or not and what plastic should we use as a bin liner?

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.

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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 are tyres recycled? - 13:58
Is Trump right to bring back plastic straws? - 22:27
Rubbish or Not: glass candle holders - 47:40
What plastic should you use as a bin liner? - 50:34

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

With a wave of new recycling legislation on the horizon, weight-based costs are set to become the norm. Could this spell the end of glass packaging as companies pivot to lighter paper and plastic alternatives? In this episode, we break down four key pieces of legislation coming in the next few years and explore how they could reshape the packaging industry, and the products we buy every day. Plus, how are tyres collected, is the plastic widget in a can of Guinness rubbish or not and what is the purpose of the Green Dot?

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.

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp

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 are tyres collected? - 9:53
Is this the end of glass packaging? - 17:51
Rubbish or Not: widget in a Guinness can - 45:09
What is the purpose of the Green Dot? - 50:56

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL