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Talking Rubbish – The Recycling Podcast
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Talking Rubbish – The Recycling Podcast

Nuevo120. The man trying to change Britain's climate conversation, Nick Oldridge12 de noviembre de 2026 · 60 min
Episodios
121
Se publica
cada semana
Último episodio
12 Nov 2026

Sobre el podcast

2 x British Podcast Award winner 2026: Gold in Education and Bronze in Impact.

"Toast this pair who are trying to make a difference one rubbish episode at a time" - The Independent 

If you think recycling is boring, think again. James and Robbie are here to prove that recycling is not only important but also downright fun! 

Ever wondered what happens to the lime in a recycled Corona bottle? Or, why a cucumber needs to be wrapped in plastic? The answers may surprise you. 

James does the research, while Robbie brings his unfiltered knowledge to the table, making for an unexpectedly entertaining deep dive into the weird and wonderful world of recycling. From busting myths to answering the wildest questions, you’ll laugh, learn, and maybe even rethink what you toss in the bin. 

“Eye-opening stuff and only rarely dry” - The Guardian 

"Who knew rubbish could be so interesting" - Radio Times 

"This podcast will make you smarter and greener" - The i 

"Full of handy, informative insights" - Heat

Episodios 121

  1. 120. The man trying to change Britain's climate conversation, Nick Oldridge

    60 minEpisodio 120

    Last week we explored the National Emergency Briefing, a film trying to change how we think about climate change. This week we're joined by Nick Oldridge, one of the people behind it, to discover how an …

  2. 119. The film trying to wake us up to climate change

    59 minEpisodio 119

    Can a 50 minute film change the way we think about climate change? This week, we explore the National Emergency Briefing, a powerful new film bringing together nine experts to explain the scale of the climate …

  3. 118. Are we turning charity shops into rubbish dumps?

    60 minEpisodio 118

    Every year, we throw away around 1.4 million tonnes of textiles in the UK, but only a fraction find their way back into our wardrobes. With fast fashion driving down the quality of donations and resale apps …

  4. 117. The Conservatives' £1.4 billion recycling u-turn

    60 minEpisodio 117

    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 …

  5. 116. When packaging promotions go horribly wrong

    60 minEpisodio 116

    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 …

  6. 115. Inside the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme with Julian Hunt

    59 minEpisodio 115

    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 …

  7. 114. How Norway gets 98% of its bottles and cans back

    60 minEpisodio 114

    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 …

  8. 113. Why can't we just make deposit return digital?

    60 minEpisodio 113

    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 …

  9. 112. Why the UK Deposit Return Scheme is free for brands

    60 minEpisodio 112

    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 …

  10. 111. When does a Deposit Return Scheme become a tax?

    60 minEpisodio 111

    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 …

  11. 110. Have we been talking about the environment all wrong? With Lucy Siegle

    54 minEpisodio 110

    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 …

  12. 109. Why recycling labels are about to get more confusing

    58 minEpisodio 109

    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 …

  13. 108. Why are we sending so much plastic to Turkey?

    58 minEpisodio 108

    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 …

  14. 107. Why our bins keep catching fire

    60 minEpisodio 107

    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 …

  15. 106. Why your fridge is making you waste food

    60 minEpisodio 106

    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 …

  16. 105. The free food app rescuing millions of meals, with Tessa Clarke from Olio

    60 minEpisodio 105

    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 …

  17. 104. Why flexible plastic might never be recycled

    60 minEpisodio 104

    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 …

  18. 103. PFAS - what you need to know about forever chemicals

    60 minEpisodio 103

    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 …

  19. 102. Greenwashing exposed - what Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein got wrong

    59 minEpisodio 102

    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 …

  20. 101. PPWR - why packaging will never be the same

    59 minEpisodio 101

    From August 2026, the packaging industry enters a new era with the rollout of the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation). In this episode, we break down what the new rules mean in practice, explore the …

  21. 100 episodes later...still Talking Rubbish

    60 minEpisodio 100

    We’ve made it to Episode 100!Reaching this milestone gave us a chance to pause and reflect on the journey so far. Joined by a live online audience for the recording, we look back on the first 100 episodes …

  22. 99. Why cartons aren't being recycled

    60 minEpisodio 99

    Cartons are a staple of everyday life, but they're far more complicated than they appear. Made from layers of paper, plastic and sometimes aluminium, they're designed to keep food fresh and …

  23. 98. Should we ban ‘plastic-free’ packaging?

    60 minEpisodio 98

    “Plastic-free” has become a powerful marketing claim, but is it always accurate? Following the EU’s formal definition of plastic, the term has come under greater scrutiny, raising questions about how it is used …

  24. 97. Why we're getting reusable packaging wrong

    60 minEpisodio 97

    Reusable packaging is gaining momentum across Europe, especially in France where ambitious reuse laws are reshaping retail and hospitality. Fresh from the Reuse Economy Expo in Paris, we discuss why we believe …

  25. 96. How recycling is really funded

    59 minEpisodio 96

    For nearly 30 years, the UK has operated a system designed to make brands contribute towards the cost of recycling through Packaging Recycling Notes (PRNs). This week, we take a closer look at how the system …

  26. 95. The tech that could end overpackaged boxes, with Jude Pullen

    60 minEpisodio 95

    It’s a familiar frustration, ordering something small, only for it to arrive in a box far bigger than it needs; wasteful and seemingly impossible to avoid. This week, we’re joined by Jude Pullen, a man on a …

  27. 94. From Kindle to kindling - how Big Tech creates waste

    60 minEpisodio 94

    Amazon has announced that some older Kindles will soon lose support, turning devices that still physically work into obsolete products. It’s the latest example of a growing trend in tech, where companies phase …

  28. 93. The death of the barcode - a win for sustainability?

    59 minEpisodio 93

    A quiet revolution is underway in our supermarkets, the familiar barcode is being replaced by QR codes. But this isn’t just a tech upgrade. These next-generation codes could transform how we shop, unlocking …

    Notas del episodio

    A quiet revolution is underway in our supermarkets, the familiar barcode is being replaced by QR codes. But this isn’t just a tech upgrade. These next-generation codes could transform how we shop, unlocking detailed product information, improving recycling, and even helping to reduce food waste. As every scan reveals more data, this shift raises a bigger question: are we ready for a future where the things we buy know more about us than ever before? Plus, is cooking oil rubbish or not, will EU rules mean single use air fresheners are banned, and why is Robbie taking inspiration from Kamikatsu?

    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 like to have an evening Talking Rubbish to celebrate our 100th episode. It will be in central Bristol on the evening of the 3rd July, to let us know if you can make it, book your place on Eventbrite

    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:
    Is this the end of the barcode? - 03:21
    Additions and corrections - 30:07
    Rubbish or Not: cooking oil - 35:53
    Rubbish News - 41:21
    Will single use air fresheners be banned under PPWR? - 51:00
    Residual Rubbish - 53:42

    Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

    Send us a message directly…

    Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

  29. 92. How the war in Iran is reshaping the plastic market

    60 minEpisodio 92

    Since February, the war in Iran has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil flows and sending shockwaves through industries worldwide. But amid the turmoil, an unexpected consequence …

    Notas del episodio

    Since February, the war in Iran has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil flows and sending shockwaves through industries worldwide. But amid the turmoil, an unexpected consequence has emerged, recycled plastic is becoming more attractive to major brands. In this episode, we explore how the conflict is reshaping the economics of plastic, and what that could mean for the products we buy in the years ahead. Plus, are nasal spray bottles rubbish or not, is litter-picked waste ever classed as fly-tipping, and why does Robbie think episode 3 was worse than episode 90?

    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 like to have an evening Talking Rubbish to celebrate our 100th episode. It will be in central Bristol on the evening of the 3rd July, to let us know if you can make it, book your place on Eventbrite

    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 the war in Iran is reshaping the plastic market? - 01:54
    Additions and corrections - 26:19
    Rubbish or Not: nasal spray bottles - 39:49
    Rubbish News - 44:29
    Can litter picked waste ever be classed as fly-tipping? - 50:11
    Residual Rubbish - 54:13

    Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

    Send us a message directly…

    Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

  30. 91. Is the Government driving up plastic use?

    59 minEpisodio 91

    In recent years, the Government has been rolling out four major policies set to reshape the waste industry. But could these well-intentioned reforms have an unintended side effect, driving a shift towards more …

Aquí están los 40 episodios más recientes de 121. Los anteriores están en el feed del podcast.

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