Talking rubbish: Sparking real change in waste management

A mission to make waste management accessible

Within two weeks of that board meeting, James and Robbie had their first episode of Talking Rubbish published. They purchased microphones, recorded a rehearsal, and decided, “That’s good enough – let’s publish it!” In fact, their very first episode was that initial rehearsal. Since then, they’ve consistently released weekly episodes, now reaching their 28th.

The podcast has grown rapidly, earning a place in the top 2% of podcasts worldwide, according to Listen Score. It was named Podcast of the Week by The Guardian, featured in The i and the Radio Times and received Apple’s New & Noteworthy recognition. The show has built a loyal listener base, with multiple people reaching out daily via WhatsApp, email, or the website to ask whether items are recyclable or to send photos of bins they have spotted in the wild.

“One popular segment of the podcast is Rubbish or Not, where we evaluate things like the new Pringles tube,” he added. “We also tackle big topics of the week and explain how recycling processes actually work. The public has really engaged with it, and unlike many podcasters we have spoken to, we don’t struggle to get interaction. People love talking about recycling!

“It’s been an amazing first six months. I’m so excited to see what’s next. This live event feels like the perfect next step.”

James has been pleasantly surprised by the audience Talking Rubbish has attracted. Initially, he envisioned the podcast as something that would appeal primarily to the “green and keen” – those already passionate about recycling and sustainability. However, it quickly became apparent that the podcast was resonating with a much broader audience.

Listeners include not only avid recyclers but also those who are simply curious about the subject and eager to learn more. This diverse appeal has helped the podcast grow rapidly, providing an accessible way for people of all knowledge levels to engage with important conversations about waste, sustainability, and the challenges of recycling. By bridging the gap between experts and everyday consumers, Talking Rubbish has succeeded in making the complex world of recycling more approachable and inclusive.

“There’s a lot of scepticism around whether packaging is actually recycled,” he added. “What I always say to people is, “Why would a council bother collecting something if they weren’t trying to recycle it?” Collecting items in separate bins costs money – both to collect and to process. The only way to recoup that cost is through recycling. Incineration and landfill come with gate fees, so they shouldn’t be the primary route for our waste.

When you start explaining the economics of how recycling works, people often become more engaged. Understanding the financial and practical realities behind recycling helps them see why it’s worth the effort to sort and recycle.”

Misinformation can spread easily, and James sees the podcast as an opportunity to address and clarify such issues. In a recent episode, for example, Talking Rubbish explored a study that claimed cooking with black plastic utensils could expose people to their daily allowance of a toxin called BDE. James and Robbie decided to investigate the study in detail to provide listeners with a clearer understanding of the findings and their implications.

“It turns out that the study involved leaving the plastic utensils in boiling oil for 15 minutes,” he continued. “Now, does anyone actually cook like that? Probably not. But even if someone did, the study claimed that 82% of our daily toxin exposure would come from those utensils. However, they’d made a calculation error – it was actually 8.2%.

“Despite this, when the study was first reported, it sparked a frenzy. Three million articles were published telling people to throw away their black plastic utensils. Later, when the error was corrected and it was revealed to be 8.2%, less than 10% of news outlets issued revised stories. The original researchers were even delisted from journal websites due to the inaccuracy of their study.

“So, you can assume that 90% of people who read those initial articles still believe the misinformation, while only 10% might know about the correction.”

This is why Talking Rubbish is such an important platform. It gives James and Robbie the opportunity to dive into stories like this, examine them critically, and share the truth with their audience. The podcast serves as a reminder to look beyond the headlines and approach these topics with a critical eye. At its core, the podcast aims to help listeners think more critically and gain a deeper understanding of the bigger picture surrounding recycling and sustainability.

Talking Rubbish now has over 240 5-star reviews across Spotify and Apple, which demonstrates that people are willing to engage with a more nuanced and truthful narrative, even when it challenges mainstream media portrayals. A great example is the podcast’s second episode, titled Why Coffee Pods Aren’t That Bad. While the title might seem divisive and potentially off-putting, it turned out to be a hit with listeners. Many have shared feedback calling it their favourite episode because it encouraged them to think differently and reconsider their assumptions.

“That’s really what we’re about – getting people to think,” said Piper. “We’ve also reached a point where people are reaching out to us about how we can play a bigger role. For instance, there’s interest in how we might help make and communicate decisions around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Deposit Return Schemes (DRS).

“We’ve grown into a strong voice for the public, and now it’s about figuring out how to use that voice effectively—whether it’s helping the government make better decisions or helping brands and retailers understand public attitudes toward different materials.”