Talking Rubbish
By James Piper, Robbie Staniforth
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.
“Rarely dry” - The Guardian
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.
“Rarely dry” - The Guardian
Latest episode
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23. Recycling rewards - exploring Deposit Return Schemes
Deposit Return Schemes are officially on the horizon! With the Government having recently passed legislation, there’s no better time to dive into the details. How exactly do these schemes work? Will we all really be returning our drinks bottles and c… -
22. Green Christmas - unwrapping festive recycling
Ho Ho Ho, and merry Christmas to all our listeners! In this jam-packed Christmas special we deep dive into tubs of chocolate (we feel this might be both metaphorical and literal this week). Why do the tubs and tins need to be made with brand new mate… -
21. How sustainable is having a baby?
James has recently (and we mean very recently - like a week ago), become a father! This led him to think about the sustainability of having a baby and what steps he would put in place as a new dad to ensure his child grows up with a strong sustainabi… -
20. Interview - Pierre Paslier, Notpla
This week, James and Robbie are joined by Pierre Paslier, co-founder of Notpla, a groundbreaking company turning seaweed into sustainable alternatives to plastic. After winning the prestigious Earthshot Prize in 2022, Notpla has been making waves in … -
19. Breaking down compostable plastic
Compostable plastic has grown significantly in the past few years as producers of packaging attempt to move away from conventional plastics. Why is this material so hard to collect and recycle? Plus, we explore how electrical items are collected, are… -
18. The true cost of deals - Black Friday’s environmental impact
It's that time of year again, Black Friday. Where did this manic sales season come from and how sustainable is it? In this episode, we discuss the growth of Black Friday and what the rise in online deliveries might be doing to our carbon emissions. P… -
17. Disposable vapes finally going up in smoke
Disposable vapes are set to be banned by June 2025, but with an estimated 150 million still in circulation until then, what happens to these devices once they’re tossed in the bin? In this episode, we dive into the life cycle of a disposable vape and… -
16. Burn or bury - how rubbish is incineration?
Recent reports suggest that it is better to landfill our waste, rather than sending it for incineration. Can this possibly be true? In this episode, we dive into the nuances behind these reports, examining some key flaws in both the data and assumpti… -
15. Interview - Alex Robinson, Hubbub
James and Robbie spend some time with Alex Robinson, CEO at Hubbub, a creative charity that inspires action that’s good for the environment, and for everyone. Hubbub's fun and innovative campaigns support individuals, households and communities to ma… -
14. Halloween sustainability - the scoop on pumpkins
Welcome, ghouls and goblins, to a spooky special of Talking Rubbish! This week, we explore the truly terrifying statistics behind the Halloween pumpkin. Plus, we will unravel the alchemy of chemical recycling, discuss what happens to that Halloween c…
