‘Talking Rubbish’ podcast launched by Robbie Staniforth and James Piper
Robbie Staniforth, innovation and policy director at Ecosurety, and James Piper, author and chair of City to Sea, have launched a new podcast talking about the world of waste and recycling.
Episodes of ‘Talking Rubbish’ will be released weekly on a Thursday with two episodes currently available across podcast platforms.
The current episodes discuss issues like bottle caps, aerosol cans, cardboard and paper sorting and coffee pods.
The podcast is aimed at both consumers and the industry, giving an in-depth look at the way the industry functions from two leading “rubbish geeks”.
Ahead of the launch, James Piper shared his excitement on LinkedIn: “A few years ago I wrote The Rubbish Book and promised to keep it up to date…a podcast was how I envisaged this happening, but life got in the way and I couldn’t find time to get started on it.
“I realised I just needed to take the leap, so asked the only person I know who posts on LinkedIn purely in video form to join me, Robbie Staniforth…
“Robbie and I will be talking all things recycling each week, discussing big issues and really getting into the detail of all the rubbish stories we see and hear.”
Greater Cambridge adopts HypnoCat
Greater Cambridge Shared Waste service has adopted the HypnoCat campaign to urge residents to avoid binning batteries or electrical goods after seven refuse truck fires within 2024.
The campaign will feature advertising poster campaigns on the side of refuse collection lorries.
Councillor Rosy Moore, executive councillor for climate action and environment at Cambridge city council, said: “HypnoCat is part of the national ‘Recycle Your Electricals’ campaign and is a fun influential character helping us to get residents’ attention and shine a spotlight on the important message to keep batteries and electronic or electrical items out of bins.”
Research from Recycle Your Electricals found that over 1.1 billion electricals and 449.9 million loose batteries were binned in the last year. UK adults admitted that on average they’d binned at least 24 batteries, including 15 electricals containing batteries and 9 nine loose batteries.
Environment Agency calls for comments on standard rules
The Environment Agency (EA) is calling for feedback from regulated industry on its plans to introduce a new set of standard rules – a fixed set of rules that an operator must comply with.
The proposed rules would allow an operator to:
- Carry out research and development activities for the innovation, introduction, and improvement of products and processes associated with existing permitted activities;
- And, carry out the activities for up to six months, unless otherwise agreed.
The EA says that this is an initial rollout of the approach for industrial installations and that it may consider widening the application of the standard rules depending on the level of operational feedback. This would require further consultation.
The consultation opened on Wednesday (7 August 2024) and will close on 30 October.
Jo Nettleton, chief regulator at the Environment Agency, said: “Research and development is central to helping industry identify innovative new approaches – and the Environment Agency wants to ensure that businesses have the flexibility to carry out this work.
“We encourage interested parties to respond to our consultation on new standard rules permits by 30 October to make sure their voices are heard.”
Ffolkes announces new waste contract with Anglian
Ffolkes pub and hotel in West Norfolk has announced a new partnership with Anglian Waste Recycling in an attempt to divert more waste from landfill.
After conducting a waste audit, Anglian identified several opportunities for the establishment to recycle more – including the introduction of food waste bins.
The 23-bedroom hotel in Hillington now has 22 bins on-site, with the contents taken to Anglian’s facility in Attleborough to be processed. Food waste is sent for anaerobic digestion.
Tom Oakley, managing director at Ffolkes, said: “As a business, we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously. We wanted to find a way to increase the amount of waste we recycle and also to know more about where our waste actually ends up.”
Anglian has also provided training to the Ffolkes team on recycling and waste best practice.
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