Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

James Piper, Robbie Staniforth

Education

Society & Culture

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 110

"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

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https://www.threads.net/@rubbishpodcast
102 shares
https://wa.me/447356069232
101 shares
https://www.ecosurety.com/

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 58%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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96. How recycling is really funded

Episode 96

Thursday, May 28, 2026 • Duration 59:24

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 really works, where it succeeds, where it falls short, and what the future of recycling funding in the UK could look like. Plus, is expanded polyethylene rubbish or not, are stickers on fruit and veg compostable, and why is James boring a lot of TikTok?

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.

If you would like to sponsor the Ecosurety team, their JustGiving page can be found here

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 talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com 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 brands fund recycling - the truth behind PRNs - 04:08
Additions and corrections - 34:55
Rubbish or Not: expanded polyethylene - 41:29
Rubbish News - 45:02
Are the stickers on fruit and veg compostable? - 49:24
Residual Rubbish - 54:01

Send us a message directly…

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

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

Episode 95

Thursday, May 21, 2026 • Duration 59:50

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 mission to change that. Join us as we explore why companies so often get packaging wrong, uncovering the logistical challenges behind every delivery, and discover how Jude is using a blend of creativity and engineering to tackle this surprisingly complex problem.

On the episode Jude mentions his board game Goats vs Llamas, which you can find here

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 : @talkingrubbishpodcast

86. Netflix's 'The Plastic Detox' - what it gets right (and what it misses)

Episode 86

Thursday, March 19, 2026 • Duration 59:37

On 16 March 2026, Netflix released 'The Plastic Detox', a documentary examining the health impacts of chemicals commonly found in plastics, particularly phthalates and BPA. In this episode, we unpack the science behind the film, reinforcing many of its conclusions while also exploring the gaps that prevent it from presenting a fully balanced scientific narrative. Plus, are plug-in air fresheners rubbish or not, which Easter egg will we be buying this year, and why is a road closure making James think about recycling.

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 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

85. Talking rubbish...with the man who collects it, the No. 1 Binman

Episode 85

Thursday, March 12, 2026 • Duration 58:55

With more than 160,000 followers on TikTok, Ashley might just be the most famous binman in the UK. In this episode, we sit down with the biggest binfluencer to talk about life on the rounds and how he built an online following by sharing the realities of the job. We also take a closer look at how bin collections actually work across the UK and hear first-hand what makes the job rewarding, challenging, and sometimes surprising. Ashley shares practical tips on how households can make life easier for refuse crews, reduce contamination in recycling, and play their part in helping waste services run smoothly. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at a vital public service that most of us rely on every week, but rarely think about.

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, our number is 07356 069 232

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish

84. The BrewDog forest - climate solution or greenwashing?

Episode 84

Thursday, March 5, 2026 • Duration 59:49

In 2020, BrewDog made headlines with a bold promise; to plant Scotland’s largest forest and become the world’s first carbon-negative beer company. Five years later, the land has been sold, the carbon-negative pledges have quietly vanished, and the company itself is fighting for survival. So what happened? This week, we dig into the rise and fall of BrewDog’s ambitious reforestation project, and ask whether the planned forest was ever quite as sustainable as it claimed. Plus, are tree guards rubbish or not, are food waste disposal units a good idea, and does Robbie have slopey shoulders?

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 on 07356 069 232

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

83. Is climate collaboration illegal?

Episode 83

Thursday, February 26, 2026 • Duration 59:02

In October 2025, five US state attorneys general wrote to environmental organisations warning that their collaboration efforts could potentially breach antitrust laws. Their argument: consumers should retain the right to choose packaging even if it harms the environment. This week, we unpack what happened, explore the key differences between US and UK competition law when it comes to companies working together on green initiatives, and examine what organisations can do to protect themselves from similar legal challenges. Plus, are triggers rubbish or not, how would we listen to our own podcast, and why has Robbie been embarrassed by a comedy gig?

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 on 07356 069 232

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

82. Is there a teaspoon of microplastics in our brains?

Episode 82

Thursday, February 19, 2026 • Duration 57:41

Last year, a study made startling headlines around the world with the claim that the average person carries the equivalent of a plastic teaspoon of microplastics in their brain. But how accurate is that finding, and if it’s questionable, why did the authors present it with such confidence? This week, we explore the challenges scientists face when measuring microplastics and nanoplastics in the human body, and why even peer-reviewed research published in the world’s most respected journals can sometimes get it wrong. Plus, are pumps on things like hand soap rubbish or not, does EPR penalise colour in plastic, and why is Robbie's window full of rubbish?

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 on 07356 069 232

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish Linktr.ee

81. The sudden rise of food waste bins

Episode 81

Thursday, February 12, 2026 • Duration 58:06

Simpler Recycling promises the biggest shake-up to the UK’s recycling system since kerbside collections began. But despite ambitions for nationwide consistency, exemptions mean some councils may take a different path. In this episode, we unpack the policy’s origins, examine why not everyone will have to follow the same rules, and look ahead to what the future of recycling might actually be. Plus, are contact lenses rubbish or not, is refillable packaging still considered packaging, why is James siding with Michael O'Leary?

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 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

80. How to remove colour from plastic, with Steven Burns

Episode 80

Thursday, February 5, 2026 • Duration 55:32

Much of the plastic packaging we use every day contains colours and additives that can be harmful, and that often prevent the plastic from being recycled at all. This week’s guest, Steven Burns, has spent years tackling that problem by developing ways to remove colour and additives from plastic, increasing its value and usability and making it far more likely to be recycled. In this episode, we explore how the process works, its potential to improve environmental outcomes, and how it could help reduce health concerns linked to plastic recycling.

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, our number is 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

79. How colour drains the value from plastic recycling

Episode 79

Thursday, January 29, 2026 • Duration 59:37

Colour can make plastic more eye-catching, but it can also make it far less valuable, dramatically reducing the chances that it will ever be recycled back into packaging. Despite this, brands continue to add vibrant pigments to packaging to grab our attention, and more often than not, it works. In this episode, we unpack why colour is such a problem for recycling and how marketing priorities collide with material value. We also explore real-world success stories, from the removal of green from Sprite bottles to the shift from coloured to transparent milk bottle lids, small changes that make a surprisingly big difference. Plus, are flags rubbish or not, does glass need to be sorted by colour, and could Robbie set a new record for the fastest wheelie bin?

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 on 07356 069 232

Relevant links and reports mentioned in the programme can be found on the Talking Rubbish

Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

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Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other16

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other16

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