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Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

James Piper, Robbie Staniforth
Recycling
Plastic Waste
Tethered Bottle Caps
Waste Management
Food Waste
Microplastics
Coffee Pods
Environmental Impact
Cardboard
Concert Sustainability
Plastic Pollution
Carbon Emissions
Sustainability
Consumer Behavior
Hubbub
Olympics
Plastic
Environmental Responsibility
Taylor Swift
Plastic Bans

"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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes87Founded2 years ago
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Latest Episodes

On 16 March 2026, Netflix released 'The Plastic Detox', a documentary examining the health impacts of chemicals commonly found in plastics, particularly phthalates and BPA. In this episode, we unpack the science behind the film, reinforcing many of i... more

YouTube

With more than 160,000 followers on TikTok, Ashley might just be the most famous binman in the UK. In this episode, we sit down with the biggest binfluencer to talk about life on the rounds and how he built an online following by sharing the realitie... more

YouTube

In 2020, BrewDog made headlines with a bold promise; to plant Scotland’s largest forest and become the world’s first carbon-negative beer company. Five years later, the land has been sold, the carbon-negative pledges have quietly vanished, and the co... more

In October 2025, five US state attorneys general wrote to environmental organisations warning that their collaboration efforts could potentially breach antitrust laws. Their argument: consumers should retain the right to choose packaging even if it h... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Steven Burns
Commercial Director at Reventus, focused on removing color from recycled plastics.
Reventus
Episode: 80. How to remove colour from plastic, with Steven Burns
Stephen Burns
Expert from Reventus focused on color in recycling
Reventus and Impact Solutions
Episode: 79. How colour drains the value from plastic recycling
Ellie Piper
Lawyer and partner of James Piper, co-hosting the discussion
Episode: 75. Sustainability around the world, with Ellie Piper
Stephanie Shires
Sustainability manager for various TV shows
Leverage Point
Episode: 70. Behind the scenes of sustainable TV production, with Stephanie Shires
Esther Carter
Chief Strategy Officer at PAC UK and expert on sustainability and waste management in the Global South
PAC UK
Episode: 65. Recycling realities in the Global South, with Esther Carter from Delterra
Gareth Morton
Manager of the FlexCollect project at Ecosurety
Ecosurety
Episode: 60. FlexCollect - closing the loop on flexible plastic, with Gareth Morton from Ecosurety
Sabra Chowdhury
Author of the book 'Consumed'
Episode: 54. Sachets - the true cost of convenience
James Howells
The individual known for losing millions in Bitcoin stored on a hard drive that ended up in a landfill
Episode: 52. How landfills actually work
Mike Berners-Lee
Author of A Climate of Truth and several influential books on sustainability
Episode: 50. The truth about climate change, with Mike Berners-Lee

Hosts

James Piper
Host of the show; co-host known for research-driven discussions on recycling, sustainability, and waste policy.
Robbie Staniforth
Co-host with a hands-on, practical approach to recycling and policy implications, known for industry insight and engaging commentary.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 441 ratings
  • 82: an episode for the ages

    James (with help from Robbie) gave an excellent breakdown of the recent Guardian article on microplastic studies and its implications for us all. Huge congrats to them for this. The rest of the episode is high quality discussion.

    I will be recommending this episode to friends and colleagues

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Plastic Scientist
    United Kingdom23 days ago
  • Changed our TP buying habits forever

    It’s hard to be a hand wringing environmentalist these days and to know what to do for the best. But these guys help us all navigate the world of rubbish as best we can. I get to berate my husband over the tiny things he throws into our single stream recycling. He now only buys 4 packs of toilet paper from the local supermarket because they measure up best on the Talking Rubbish TP criteria. Thank you for making rubbish and recycling so fact filled but funny.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SarsUSA
    United States25 days ago
  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely Rubbish — In the Best Possible Way

    The hosts have an absolute rubbish heap of charisma. Their chemistry is never trashy, and they refuse to let the conversation go stale.

    Some might think a podcast called Talking Rubbish would be full of wasted potential, but honestly, this show is pure gold — the kind you find at the bottom of the sorting facility. The discussions are so engaging I’ve started listening on my commute, my lunch break, and yes, while taking the bins out.

    The production quality is spotless. The topics are meaty, t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jennifer Bridge
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Jingle wiggle

    I listen to your brilliant content doing my weekly bathroom clean (Nancy Birtwhistle home made cleaning potions, of course). This podcast gives me hope that there are an increasing number of people and businesses in the world that care about sustainability. Also love the jingle music and always have a little wiggle to it 😂 keep up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joy672
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Certainly not rubbish!

    Great podcast the presenters make what could be a dry subject entertaining and really informative. I’ve been binfluenced!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EWS20578
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High production quality and practical, family-friendly insights.
Engaging, informative and funny—a standout in sustainability content.
Listeners praise chemistry and deep dives into recycling topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#197
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#1
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts
#71
Australia/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#155
France/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#213
Italy/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

80. How to remove colour from plastic, with Steven Burns
Q: What's your favorite color and why?
I would have to say blue, purely because the football team I support plays in blue.
80. How to remove colour from plastic, with Steven Burns
Q: What is your vision for the future?
We are currently doing an engineering design package to build a first of a kind plant, and we plan to operationalize it by 2028.
76. Why your council tax isn't paying for your recycling anymore
Q: Why can we recycle aerosols at home, but not gas canisters?
Aerosols contain small amounts of product and are at low pressure, making them less risky for recycling compared to gas canisters, which are high-pressure and can explode.
75. Sustainability around the world, with Ellie Piper
Q: What did you find to be the environmental challenges you encountered in Antarctica?
Ellie notes the strict protocols for not disturbing the pristine environment and the significant carbon impact of trips to Antarctica.
75. Sustainability around the world, with Ellie Piper
Q: What was the first thing that you noticed from a sustainability perspective in South America?
Ellie mentions being overwhelmed by the vastness of Bogotá and not initially noticing the sustainability side of things.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Talking Rubbish

What is Talking Rubbish about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively deep dive into recycling, waste, and sustainability that blends rigorous analysis with accessible humor. Episodes frequently tackle how plastics are recycled, the economics of packaging, regulatory changes, and real-world impacts on households and businesses. The hosts balance critical takes on industry practices with practical tips for listeners to make greener choices, often inviting guests to illuminate technical challenges and evolving solutions. A standout trait is the mix of sharp banter, data-informed critique, and timely debates on policy shifts, branding, and consumer behavior that make the topic approachable without sacrificing depth.

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Which podcasts are similar to Talking Rubbish?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking Rubbish:

1. Sliced Bread
2. More or Less
3. What's Up Docs?
4. Radical with Amol Rajan
5. The Food Programme

How many episodes of Talking Rubbish are there?

Talking Rubbish launched 2 years ago and published 87 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Talking Rubbish?

Recent guests on Talking Rubbish include:

1. Steven Burns
2. Stephen Burns
3. Ellie Piper
4. Stephanie Shires
5. Esther Carter
6. Gareth Morton
7. Sabra Chowdhury
8. James Howells

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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