DiscoverTalking Rubbish - The Recycling PodcastHow we made flexible plastic recycling valuable
How we made flexible plastic recycling valuable

How we made flexible plastic recycling valuable

Update: 2025-09-11
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Recycling flexible (or soft) plastics has long been a challenge; costly, labour-intensive, and difficult to scale. In this episode, we explore how major UK brands came together to fund groundbreaking work that helped make supermarket collection of these plastics possible, paving the way for household recycling in the future. James and Robbie, two of the key drivers behind the initiative, take you behind the scenes to share the challenges, breakthroughs, and impact of this collaborative effort. Plus, are sponges rubbish or not, is incineration really better than landfill, and why is James angry at a piece of bubble wrap?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

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Timestamps:
Making flexible plastic recycling valuable - 03:01
Additions and corrections - 30:12
Rubbish or Not: sponges and loofahs - 39:10
Rubbish News - 44:04
Is incineration better than landfill? - 47:47
Residual Rubbish - 53:23


Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL

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How we made flexible plastic recycling valuable

How we made flexible plastic recycling valuable

James Piper, Robbie Staniforth