We cover a lot of topics on Talking Rubbish, and sometimes it can be hard to find a specific Rubbish or Not, or the answer to that burning recycling question you remember hearing a few months ago.
To help you navigate all the rubbish James and Robbie have discussed, we have created the Directory. Below is a table of every live episode of Talking Rubbish, along with timestamps in green italics for you to easily find the bit you are looking for. We are also adding these timestamps to the show notes on the episode page. This feature allows you to click the timestamp and the audio player will play the correct section, to do this just click the episode link under the column 'Episode Number'.
Remember, if you listen on Apple these chapters are automatically built into the episodes.
Episode Number |
Rubbish Process |
Trash Talk |
Rubbish or Not |
Rubbish Question |
| Episode 1 | How is waste collected? (02:00) | Why are bottle caps attached? (13:40) | Pizza boxes (31:03) | Why do councils say different things about replacing lids? (36:00) |
| Episode 2 | How are cardboard and paper sorted? (04:52) | Why coffee pods aren't that bad? (12:53) | Aerosol cans (36:58) | When recycling wrapping paper should we remove tape? (42:03) |
| Episode 3 | How are cardboard and paper recycled? (05:24) | Do the Olympics fuel packaging waste? (13:05) | Cork (27:56) | Should you stuff flexible plastic in a bottle for recycling? (31:28) |
| Episode 4 | How is glass sorted? (05:23) | Does the carrier bag charge reduce plastic use? (12:42) | Birthday cards (33:25) | Are the cardboard beds used by the Olympics better than metal / wood? (36:28) |
| Episode 5 | Interview - Natalie Fée, City to Sea | |||
| Episode 6 | How is glass recycled? (06:27) | How can we make refill packaging work? (12:17) | Photographs (36:44) | Should you use a bottle bank or at home recycling for glass if both are available? (39:59) |
| Episode 7 | How are the metals sorted? (04:42) | How green is a Taylor Swift concert? (13:57) | Kitchen paper (38:37) | Following bottle caps, are there any other developments coming from the EU? (40:16) |
| Episode 8 | How are the metals recycled? (08:07) | How do brands pay for our recycling (EPR)? (15:44) | Receipts (38:48) | Should you ignore council guidance when it sounds like MRFs can sort? (42:41) |
| Episode 9 | The first four types of plastic (07:12) | Why is my cucumber wrapped in plastic? (18:58) | Flexible plastic Pouches (33:57) | Can you recycle shredded paper? (36:25) |
| Episode 10 | Interview - Nick Torday, Bower Collective | |||
| Episode 11 | The final three types of plastic (11:53) | Are we really eating a credit card of microplastic weekly? (25:35) | Blister packs (38:33) | What can you do with the lime in a Corona bottle? (41:20) |
| Episode 12 | How is plastic sorted? (09:55) | Which plastics have been banned and why? (17:27) | Toothbrushes (35:27) | How can councils advise normal carrier bags with food waste collections? (38:33) |
| Episode 13 | How is plastic mechanically recycled? (08:47) | Should we bother recycling flexible plastic? (14:59) | Electrical cables (40:20) | Is glass melted twice, when it's collected and when it's manufactured? (42:59) |
| Episode 14 | How is plastic chemically recycled? (12:33) | The sustainability of a Halloween pumpkin (19:49) | Fancy dress costumes (32:03) | Do we have any sustainable decoration ideas? (35:40) |
| Episode 15 | Interview - Alex Robinson, Hubbub | |||
| Episode 16 | How could plastic replace wood? (12:16) | How bad is incineration? (19:55) | Credit cards (42:16) | What should we do with the plastic film on trays? (47:28) |
| Episode 17 | What should we do with waste wood? (10:36) | Disposable vape ban (16:56) | Books (37:29) | Why do we bother sorting metal if it can get extracted from an incinerator? (42:41) |
| Episode 18 | The history of pallets (11:33) | Sustainability of Black Friday (17:58) | Duvet covers and pillowcases (43:20) | Did we ruin our recycling by making sustainable Halloween decorations?(46:46) |
| Episode 19 | How are electrical items collected? (11:11) | Breaking down compostable plastic (18:50) | Rubber bands (45:25) | What should we do with beer bottle lids? (50:03) |
| Episode 20 | Interview - Pierre Paslier, Notpla | |||
| Episode 21 | How are nappies recycled? (11:04) | How sustainable is having a baby? (20:49) | Wet wipes (40:00) | What advice would Robbie give James about fatherhood? (43:16) |
| Episode 22 | How are Christmas trees recycled? (12:01) | What to do with tubs of chocolate (25:15) | Christmas crackers (48:33) | How can we tell is wrapping paper is recyclable? (53:33) |
| Episode 23 | How are electricals recycled? (11:05) | Deposit Return Schemes (19:09) | Fireworks (46:26) | Why does some flexible plastic say 'do not recycle'? (49:21) |
| Episode 24 | How are batteries collected? (12:43) | Are invisible barcodes the holy grail of plastic recycling? (18:10) | Train tickets (43:47) | How bad is glitter? (47:12) |
| Episode 25 | Interview - Alice Rackley, Polytag | |||