Rubbish Talk

01/10/2025

From String Bags to Modern Waste Bins 🛍️🗑️

Alasdair still remembers carrying home fruit in a string bag from the local shop — reusable before it was trendy. ♻️

Jane recalls being embarrassed by hers, but today we’re back to bringing our own bags and rethinking how we deal with waste. From dustmen to wheelie bins, and string bags to tote bags, waste collection has evolved with us.

🎧 Listen to full episode here: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/25/rubbish-talk-episode-77-waste-collection-methods/

29/09/2025

Ever wondered how your council tax is spent?🤔💷

Out of every £1, just 7p goes on waste management and street cleaning. 🗑️ Meanwhile, 57p goes to social care.

It shows just how stretched waste budgets are — yet teams still manage to deliver collections week in, week out. A little perspective on the true value of the service many of us take for granted.

🎧 Listen to full episode here: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/25/rubbish-talk-episode-77-waste-collection-methods/

26/09/2025

Bin Lift Dangers in Waste Industry ⚠️🚛

Bin lifts transformed waste collections by reducing heavy lifting — but there’s a hidden danger. 🚛♻️

On automatic cycle, they don’t care if it’s a bin or a person. Sadly, there have been serious injuries and even fatalities. The industry is working hard on new controls, but this is a reminder: efficiency should never come at the cost of safety.

🎧 Listen to full episode here: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/25/rubbish-talk-episode-77-waste-collection-methods/

25/09/2025

🚛 Episode 77 is Out Now! 🚛

From dust yards in the 1800s to today’s wheelie bins, kerbside sort, and communal collections — waste collection has come a long way. But are we doing it as efficiently (and safely) as we could?

Alasdair and Jane explore:
🔹 The history of household waste collections
🔹 Why consistent bin colours still matter
🔹 The true costs behind your weekly collections
🔹 Future innovations — from RFID chips to driverless bin lorries

👉 Listen now to hear how 200 years of change has shaped the way we deal with waste today.

🎧 Episode 77: Waste Collection Methods
🔗 https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/25/rubbish-talk-episode-77-waste-collection-methods/

24/09/2025

Guinness in Landfill 🍺🕳️

Here’s a surprising bit of landfill history: in the ’90s, before liquids were banned, truckloads of Guinness were disposed of by simply digging a hole and tipping them in.

Standing on site years later, someone remarked — “I can’t believe I’m standing on top of Guinness.” A strange (and slightly sad) reminder of how far waste management has come.

🎧 Listen to full episode here: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/18/rubbish-talk-episode-76-landfill-the-last-resort/

22/09/2025

Edinburgh Airport Recycling Fail ✈️🚮

On a trip through Edinburgh Airport, Alasdair spotted “coffee cup only” bins filled with anything but cups. Worse still? A bin split between “cups” and “residual” had just one plastic bag inside — meaning it all went to residual!

If we want the public to recycle properly, honesty is key.♻️

🎧 Listen to full episode here: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/18/rubbish-talk-episode-76-landfill-the-last-resort/

18/09/2025

Episode 76 Out Now! Landfill – The Last Resort? 🗑️🏔️

We’ve reached the final stop in our waste hierarchy series: Landfill (Disposal).
Alasdair and Jane take us back to the days when almost everything went into a hole in the ground — and trace how engineering, legislation, and landfill tax transformed the sector. From the 1986 Loscoe gas explosion to today’s lined sites with gas-to-energy, landfill has changed beyond recognition.

But even now, landfill still plays a vital role. Some wastes can’t go anywhere else, and with Scotland’s biodegradable landfill ban on the horizon, pressures on space and haulage are only set to grow.

It’s not all bad news: restored sites support wildlife, landfill gas powers homes, and future landfill mining could unlock valuable resources.

🎧 Listen now to hear why landfill remains a necessary last resort — and how the future might look.

👉 https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/18/rubbish-talk-episode-76-landfill-the-last-resort/

17/09/2025

“Never a dull day, plenty of challenges, and incredibly rewarding.” 💡

Andy Rees OBE shares why waste management has kept him motivated for over 25 years. From economics and social issues to the environment and everyday behaviours, the sector touches every part of society.

For young professionals, his advice is clear: this is a career where you’ll learn about life, people, and the economy — while making a real difference.

Catch the full conversation here 👉 https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/10/rubbish-talk-episode-75-andy-rees-obe-head-of-waste-strategy-at-the-welsh-government/

16/09/2025

We love hearing from our listeners 💚

One of you summed up Episode 74 perfectly in just one word: “excellent.” 🙌

Episode 74 dove into litter, waste responsibility, and why “the bins were full” is never an excuse. If you haven’t caught it yet, now’s your chance to tune in.

🎧 Listen here: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/04/rubbish-talk-episode-74-your-waste-your-responsibility/

Rubbish Talk Episode 74: Your Waste, Your Responsibility Leave a Comment / Rubbish Talk Podcasts / By RubbishTalk News Roundup 🗞️EU Plastics Recycling Industry Warns of Imminent CollapseThe European plastics recycling sector is in crisis. Falling demand, rising costs, and low-priced imports are...

15/09/2025

Weekly collections. Clear separation. High-quality recyclables ♻️

Andy Rees OBE explains why Wales is outpacing the rest of the UK in recycling. By keeping systems consistent and simple, they’ve made it easy for households to do the right thing — and ensured that recyclables actually get reused by manufacturers.

A model worth learning from.

Full episode 👉 https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/10/rubbish-talk-episode-75-andy-rees-obe-head-of-waste-strategy-at-the-welsh-government/

12/09/2025

Andy's Career Milestone 🏅

Andy Rees OBE reflects on a career milestone — leading Wales to meet every recycling target set so far, being ranked 2nd in the world for recycling, and receiving an OBE for services to environmental recycling 🥇♻️

A brilliant reminder that persistence, teamwork, and clear strategy can change how a country handles waste.

Full episode here 👉 https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/10/rubbish-talk-episode-75-andy-rees-obe-head-of-waste-strategy-at-the-welsh-government/

11/09/2025

EPISODE 75 OUT NOW! 🗣️🎙️

This week on the Rubbish Talk Podcast, we welcome Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy at the Welsh Government. For over 25 years Andy has shaped policy that’s taken Wales from a 5% recycling rate to nearly 70% — making it second in the world. 🌍

Andy’s message is simple: be brave, stick with it, and design for quality. The result? Jobs, resilience, and a circular economy that benefits people and planet.

🎧 Listen now: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2025/09/10/rubbish-talk-episode-75-andy-rees-obe-head-of-waste-strategy-at-the-welsh-government/