Rubbish Talk

18/06/2026

🎙️ Episode 115 is out now! 🎙️

This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Dr Anna Willetts, environmental criminal lawyer, Partner at gunnercooke, and Immediate Past President of CIWM.

They discuss waste crime, environmental enforcement, regulation, and the challenges facing legitimate operators in an increasingly complex industry. Anna also shares insights from her unique career journey, combining landfill engineering, environmental consultancy and environmental law.

From illegal waste sites and organised crime to digital waste tracking, battery fires and compliance, this is a fascinating conversation about the legal and practical realities of protecting our environment.

🎧 Tune in now: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/06/18/rubbish-talk-episode-115-anna-willetts-environmental-criminal-lawyer-partner-at-gunnercooke/

11/06/2026

🎙️ Episode 114 is out now! ♻️🔋

This week, Jane and Alasdair are back with a News Roundup Special, taking a closer look at one of the waste sector's biggest challenges: v**es and batteries.

They discuss the impact of the disposable v**e ban, calls for a £5 v**e deposit scheme, and why fires linked to e-cigarettes continue to rise despite increased awareness.

Plus:
🚮 Egypt's famous "Garbage City"
♻️ Deposit Return Scheme updates
🔥 Energy from Waste and the UK ETS
🚔 The ongoing challenge of waste crime

And of course, a rant about batteries in bins!

🎧 Listen now: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/06/11/rubbish-talk-episode-114-v**es-fires-waste-news-roundup/

And remeber: if it has a battery, don't bin it — recycle it properly.

05/06/2026

Have you missed this episode of Rubbish Talk?

If AI can spot lithium-ion batteries before they ignite, we could cut up to 38% of fires 🔥
Let’s test it, scale it, and make the industry safer.

Full conversation in Episode 109 of Rubbish Talk: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/05/07/rubbish-talk-episode-109-henrik-webster-ceo-aspect-labs-ltd/

04/06/2026

🎙️ New Episode Out Now! 🎙️

This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Solomon Ede, Senior Enforcement Officer at West Lothian Council and Scottish Executive Representative for LARAC.

From waste management in Ghana to tackling littering and fly-tipping in Scotland, Solomon shares his unique perspective on recycling, behaviour change, environmental enforcement, and the role of local authorities in driving positive change.

A fascinating conversation on why education and engagement are often just as important as enforcement.

🎧 Listen now: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/06/04/rubbish-talk-episode-113-solomon-ede-senior-enforcement-officer-at-west-lothian-council/

03/06/2026

Have you missed this episode of Rubbish talk?

Recycling isn’t perfect ♻️
MRFs recover what they can — not everything.
And no, it’s not true that “nothing gets recycled.”

Full Conversation in Episode 108 of Rubbish Talk: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/04/30/rubbish-talk-episode-108-aaron-mcintyre-managing-director-awd-environmental-ltd/

01/06/2026

Have you missed this episode of Rubbish Talk?

If you had a magic wand… 🪄 Make every bin system the same.
No more confusion, just better recycling ♻️

Full conversation in Episode 107 of Rubbish Talk: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/04/23/rubbish-talk-episode-107-kirstie-macdougall-office-training-vq-administrator-albion-environmental/

29/05/2026

Have you missed this episode of Rubbish Talk?

Fly tipping isn’t just ugly — it’s illegal 🚫
Let’s keep our streets clean, report it when you see it, and do the right thing ♻️

Full Conversation in Episode 106 of Rubbish Talk: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/04/16/rubbish-talk-episode-106-henry-mathias-tranent-wombles/

28/05/2026

♻️ Episode 112 is Out Now! ♻️

This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Connor Benton and Serena Powell from Go4Greener to explore the fascinating world of hazardous waste, WEEE recycling, batteries, and innovative waste technology.

They discuss Go4Greener’s new Advetec system, which is transforming nappies and sanitary waste into Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), alongside the realities of hazardous waste management, unknown chemicals, battery recycling, and why the UK still exports so much waste overseas.

Plus — wartime pyrotechnics turning up during waste clearances, magic recycling boxes, and why more young people should consider a career in the waste industry 👀

🎧 Listen Now: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/05/28/rubbish-talk-episode-112-connor-benton-serena-powell-go4greener/

27/05/2026

Have you missed this episode of Rubbish Talk?

Illegal dumping isn’t just harmful — it costs all of us 💸♻️
Cleaning up fly-tipping is paid for by taxpayers, not the people who dumped it Think before you throw 🌍

Full conversation in Episode 105 of Rubbish Talk: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/04/09/rubbish-talk-episode-105-news-roundup/

26/05/2026

Why does litter remain such a persistent problem across the UK — despite decades of campaigns, legislation, and clean-up initiatives?

Our latest blog from CIWM Life Member John Crawford explores the history of litter management in Scotland and the wider UK, from the early days of mechanical street sweepers and the Litter Act 1958 through to modern enforcement challenges and behaviour change campaigns.

It’s a fascinating look at how public attitudes, enforcement, education, and local authority structures have shaped the “litter epidemic” — and why many believe it has now become endemic.

The article also raises an important question:
Are we focusing too much on clearing litter up, rather than preventing it in the first place?

🔗 Read the full blog here: https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/2026/05/22/the-litter-epidemic-or-is-it-endemic/

What do you think is the biggest barrier to tackling litter effectively today? Comment below👇

The Litter Epidemic…Or is it Endemic? Leave a Comment / Landfill, Re-use, Recycling, Waste Management News, Waste Minimisation / By RubbishTalk / May 22, 2026 May 22, 2026 ‘We’re just back from our annual holiday in’ (choose any European country you like!) ‘and were so impressed as usual w...