Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast | Podcast Guru

Overview

Episodes

Details

"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

Recent Episodes

73. Battery fires - the growing problem within recycling

DEC 18, 2025

73. Battery fires - the growing problem within recycling

Imagine accidentally starting a fire that caused £30 million in damage and destroyed 60,000 tonnes of UK recycling, and never even knowing you did it. This is the hidden danger of battery fires, and unfortunately a true story. In recent years, the number of fires caused by batteries have more than doubled as batteries become more powerful and increasingly hazardous. Nowhere is this risk greater than in the waste and recycling industry, where a single misplaced battery can ignite during collection or processing. In this episode, we uncover how our current recycling systems are fuelling these fires and, crucially, what simple steps we can all take to make sure we’re not the ones who start the next one. Plus, are nitrous oxide canisters rubbish or not, can you recycle brittle bottles, and why has James been rummaging through a bin store in Tenerife?

55 MIN

72. Why labels on bottles could ruin our recycling

DEC 11, 2025

72. Why labels on bottles could ruin our recycling

In 2017, Lucozade bottles were branded a “recycling villain”, not because of the bottle itself, but because the label wrapped around it was stopping the whole thing from being recycled. How can a simple label cause such a big problem, and why are brands often slow to fix issues like this? In this episode, we dive into the surprisingly technical world of packaging labels and uncover why even small changes are far more complex than they seem. Plus, are effervescent tablet tubes rubbish or not, should we dye our clothes, and why is Greggs in our bad books.

53 MIN

71. Dirty business - is waste crime on the rise?

DEC 4, 2025

71. Dirty business - is waste crime on the rise?

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?

59 MIN

70. Behind the scenes of sustainable TV production, with Stephanie Shires

NOV 27, 2025

70. Behind the scenes of sustainable TV production, with Stephanie Shires

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 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.

52 MIN

69. Green Screen - the carbon footprint of TV

NOV 20, 2025

69. Green Screen - the carbon footprint of TV

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?

58 MIN