A vast illegal waste dump in Oxfordshire, stretching 150 metres and sinking two storeys deep, has sent shockwaves through the waste industry. It’s a stark reminder of one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: organised waste crime. How could a site of this scale emerge unnoticed and unchallenged? Why did it take the Environment Agency more than three months to formally shut it down? With incidents of large-scale fly-tipping on the rise, what does this mean for the future of waste management? Join us as we explore the growing shadow economy of waste crime and discuss the forces driving it. Plus, are postage stamps (and their books) rubbish or not, would we really recommend plastic over paper, and why is James fighting with an AI chatbot?

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 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 waste crime on the rise? - 02:21
Additions and corrections - 27:55
Rubbish or Not: postage stamps - 36:08
Rubbish News - 39:31
Are we really recommending plastic over paper? - 46:31
Residual Rubbish - 54:40

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

With nearly 200,000 tonnes of direct carbon emissions linked to the UK TV and film industry in 2024, sustainability is quickly becoming an urgent priority. This week’s guest, Stephanie Shires, has helped deliver major carbon-reduction initiatives on some of the biggest shows currently on television. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at how environmental impact is managed on set, from food and transport, to accommodation and daily logistics. Steph breaks down the practical decisions she faces each day, revealing what it really takes to make modern productions more sustainable.

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.

Sign our very first pootition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/poo

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 Talking Rubbish website

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

The world of television is a carbon minefield, packed with travel, fuel use, catering demands, high-maintenance talent and crews racing against the clock. So how is albert reshaping the industry? Does carbon tracking genuinely drive change, or has it become just another box to tick? In this episode, we go behind the scenes to uncover the challenges, innovations and everyday decisions that could make our favourite TV programmes far more sustainable. Plus, are fire extinguishers rubbish or not, what happens to bagged recycling, and why have James and Robbie both eaten Wagyu beef this week?

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 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:
The carbon footprint of TV - 02:00
Additions and corrections - 30:54
Rubbish or Not: fire extinguishers - 35:45
Rubbish News - 41:07
What happens to bagged recycling? - 45:52
Residual Rubbish - 50:11

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

In recent years, toilet rolls wrapped in paper instead of plastic have been hailed as the eco-friendly choice. But in most industries, individually wrapping products is seen as wasteful, so why does toilet paper get a free pass? In this episode, we unravel the surprisingly complicated world of “sustainable” loo roll. From eco brands to supermarket staples, we’ll find out which options really wipe the floor with the rest. Plus, are Carex refill pouches rubbish or not, should we flush or bin snotty toilet paper, and why is "bangers and cash" a great title for a future episode.

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 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:
What toilet paper should you buy? - 01:45
Additions and corrections - 32:07
Rubbish or Not: Carex refill pouch - 40:02
Rubbish News - 44:03
Should we flush or bin snotty toilet paper? - 47:24
Residual Rubbish - 51:34

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

In 2016, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation made a striking prediction: by 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. The claim spread like wildfire, appearing in headlines, reports, and speeches around the world. But is it true, or just a catchy soundbite? In this episode, we dive into how scientists estimate the weight of plastic and fish in the ocean, what those numbers really mean, and whether this alarming forecast holds water. Plus, are scratchcards rubbish or not, which aluminium foil should we buy, and is James regretting saying he would pay the fines for pouring away a coffee?

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 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:
Will there really be more plastic than fish in the ocean? - 04:26
Additions and corrections - 24:45
Rubbish or Not: scratchcards - 33:52
Rubbish News - 39:27
Which aluminium foil, recyclable or recycled material? - 42:41
Residual Rubbish - 46:02

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Launched in 2021, the Earthshot Prize has quickly become one of the most influential awards in global sustainability. Each year, it celebrates groundbreaking companies and visionary projects that embody the best of human ingenuity. In this episode, we explore who might take home the prize in 2025, why the money itself may matter less than you’d think, and whether spotlighting a single winner truly serves the bigger picture of lasting change. Plus, are water pistols rubbish or not, what is pre-consumer recycling, and have we found the longest (and best) review we will ever receive?

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.

Sign our very first pootition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/poo

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:
Who should win the Earthshot prize? - 02:22
Additions and corrections - 25:48
Rubbish or Not: water pistols - 34:36
Rubbish News - 38:43
What is pre-consumer recycling? - 42:34
Residual Rubbish - 47:10

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

With over 17,000 islands, 34,000 miles of coastline, and limited formal waste management, Indonesia faces an immense waste challenge, one that’s compounded by imports of foreign waste from countries like the UK. This week’s guest, Esther Carter (recently named #1 on the Resource Hot 100), shares insights from her time living and working in Indonesia, offering a first-hand perspective on how the crisis unfolds on the ground. In this wide-ranging conversation, we dig into the realities of waste management across the archipelago, the social and environmental impacts of global waste trade, and explore what meaningful solutions could look like for Indonesia’s future.

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.

Sign our very first pootition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/poo

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 Talking Rubbish website

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

Fresh from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition conference in Boston, we dive into America’s focus on EPR, flexible plastics, and consumer engagement. Don’t miss our biggest takeaways from this influential event. Plus, are red Solo cups rubbish or not, does pouring a drink down a train count as littering, and why is James annoyed at his son?

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.

Sign our very first pootition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/poo

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:
Why is recycling so hard in America? - 01:57
Additions and corrections - 30:27
Rubbish or Not: Red Solo Cups - 36:23
Rubbish News - 41:40
Is pouring a drink down a drain littering? - 47:22
Residual Rubbish - 53:07

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL