Welcome to a special live edition of Trash Talk, filmed at ESS 2025. ♻️

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Adam Read MBE, Chief Sustainability Officer at SUEZ and one of the most influential voices in UK waste policy, to explore what it really takes to turn environmental ambition into real world action.

From litter picking at school to shaping national recycling reform, Adam’s career spans decades of leadership across government, consultancy, and corporate strategy, and he is not afraid to tackle the hard truths holding the circular economy back.

We cover:
• Why policy ambition often fails at implementation
• The truth about EPR, DRS, and Simpler Recycling
• How to rebuild public trust in recycling
• Why politicians still fear the green agenda
• The elephant in the room, consumption
• And what the waste sector will look like by 2060

Filmed live at ESS 2025, this conversation cuts through the jargon to reveal how communication, collaboration, and courage can shape a truly circular future.

Massive thanks to Dr. Adam Read MBE for joining us live and sharing his insight on what it will take to make waste management and resource efficiency mainstream.

Welcome to Episode 5 of Trash Talk ♻️

In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Serfass, Executive Director of the American Biogas Council, to uncover how biogas went from unknown to unstoppable in the US energy conversation.

Patrick shares his unorthodox journey from oceanography and architectural engineering to leading one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sectors in the country. From policy wins to public education, we dive into what it takes to scale an industry most Americans don’t even know exists.

We also cover:
• Why RNG is dominating new project development
• What’s holding the biogas industry back — and how to fix it
• How ABC grew from 20 to 400+ member companies
• The real carbon math behind biogas vs solar and wind
• And why education is the industry’s biggest growth lever

Massive thanks to Patrick for sharing his story and bringing clarity to a complex, crucial part of the clean energy future. Enjoy the episode!

Welcome to Episode 4 of Trash Talk ♻️

This time, we’re joined by Robert Lems, CEO of Host Bio Energy North America, and a major voice in the biogas space on both sides of the Atlantic.

Robert shares what it’s really like to scale clean energy teams across Europe and the US and the lessons he’s learned from doing it the hard way first.

We get into what trust looks like in practice, why biogas is still massively underestimated, and how culture can make or break a team.

We also talk:
• Why the US biogas market is just getting started
• The culture gap between Europe and North America
• What real leadership looks like when the pressure’s on
• How to grow without burning your people out

Big thanks to Robert for bringing honesty, experience and proper insight to the table.
Enjoy the episode.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Trash Talk! ♻️

In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Lapsys, President of Viably (formerly CompTEC Americas), to explore how technology and leadership are driving change in construction and demolition recycling.

Brandon shares his journey from Boy Scouts recycling drives to building one of the most innovative machinery and plant solution companies in the game. We get into the real-world challenges of scaling new tech, the importance of grit, and what it means to be a true partner in the waste industry.

We also cover:
• Why end markets and automation go hand-in-hand
• What it takes to lead in a fast-evolving space
• How Viably is shaping the future of waste solutions
• And why grit might be the most underrated hiring trait of all

Big thanks to Brandon for the honest perspective and deep industry insight. Enjoy the episode!

Welcome to Episode 2 of Trash Talk! ♻️

This time, we’re joined by Terri Ward, CEO of the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association, and a true veteran of the C&D world.

Terri shares her journey from an unexpected start in the industry to becoming a leading voice in C&D recycling. We dive into what it really takes to lead change — from navigating tough regulations to building trust across the value chain.

We also talk:
• Why end markets matter more than ever
• The realities of operating a MRF in today’s climate
• What fair policy actually looks like
• How to lead through curiosity and connection

A big thanks to Terri for bringing the knowledge and keeping it real. Enjoy the episode!

Welcome to the very first episode of Trash Talk! ♻️

We sat down with Troy Lautenbach, founder of Lautenbach Bark Recycling, to hear the incredible story behind building a recycling business from the ground up. From starting out with no money and an old pickup truck to navigating market crashes, regulations, and major tech shifts — this episode is full of honesty, insight, and inspiration.

Thanks again to Troy for being our first guest and setting the bar high. Enjoy the episode!