Talking Rubbish - Recycled Content

Is it better to dye clothes or re-buy?

Buying new clothes isn’t always the greenest option. Re-dyeing faded black trousers with products like Dylon can dramatically extend their life, using around 60 litres of water compared with roughly 8,000 litres needed to produce a new pair of jeans. Research commissioned by Dylon suggests re-dyeing a pair of jeans can save nearly 20kg of CO₂ versus buying new. While fabric dyes do have some environmental impact, their footprint is generally far lower than replacing garments, making “re-dye, don’t rebuy” a compelling sustainability choice. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 72 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 11th December 2025. While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong. These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast [https://pod.link/1759333374] We would love you to join our community on Discord [https://discord.gg/8eP3FtfhPf] Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety [https://www.ecosurety.com/] To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rubbishpodcast/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rubbishpodcast], X [https://x.com/rubbishpodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@rubbishpodcast] or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/rubbishpodcast/]; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@talkingrubbishpodcast]: @talkingrubbishpodcast Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp [https://wa.me/447356069232] on 07356 069 232 Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Are effervescent tablet tubes recyclable?

Are effervescent tablet tubes recyclable? To our surprise there were beads hidden in the lid. Those little silica beads are there to keep moisture out. The good news is that, according to recycling experts, the silica desiccant is compatible with polypropylene (PP) recycling and separates during processing. That means the tubes can be recycled as normal — definitely not rubbish. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 72 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 11th December 2025. While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong. These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast [https://pod.link/1759333374] We would love you to join our community on Discord [https://discord.gg/8eP3FtfhPf] Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety [https://www.ecosurety.com/] To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rubbishpodcast/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rubbishpodcast], X [https://x.com/rubbishpodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@rubbishpodcast] or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/rubbishpodcast/]; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@talkingrubbishpodcast]: @talkingrubbishpodcast Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp [https://wa.me/447356069232] on 07356 069 232 Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Are we really recommending plastic over paper?

Prompted by an email from listener Kenton, we revisit the paper-versus-plastic debate. While plastic pollution is a serious problem, we argue that the best choice depends on the product and propose three tests for "good" plastic packaging: it should be recyclable, contain at least 50% recycled content, and be significantly lighter than the alternative. Using these criteria, plastic wrap around recycled toilet roll may outperform paper wrapping, while also creating demand for recycled plastic that might otherwise be incinerated. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 71 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 4th December 2025. While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong. These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast [https://pod.link/1759333374] We would love you to join our community on Discord [https://discord.gg/8eP3FtfhPf] Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety [https://www.ecosurety.com/] To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rubbishpodcast/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rubbishpodcast], X [https://x.com/rubbishpodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@rubbishpodcast] or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/rubbishpodcast/]; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@talkingrubbishpodcast]: @talkingrubbishpodcast Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp [https://wa.me/447356069232] on 07356 069 232 Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

Are postage stamps recyclable?

Are stamps recyclable? Used stamps can be donated to charities, which sell collectable stamps to raise funds, although everyday stamps have very little value. If you're saving stamps, trim around them carefully, leaving about 1cm of envelope attached. As for stamp books, they're likely rubbish. Self-adhesive stamp backing paper is thought to be coated with silicone so stamps can peel away easily. Like greaseproof paper, this silicone coating can contaminate paper recycling, making the backing sheets unsuitable for recycling. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 71 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 4th December 2025. While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong. These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast [https://pod.link/1759333374] We would love you to join our community on Discord [https://discord.gg/8eP3FtfhPf] Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety [https://www.ecosurety.com/] To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rubbishpodcast/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rubbishpodcast], X [https://x.com/rubbishpodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@rubbishpodcast] or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/rubbishpodcast/]; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@talkingrubbishpodcast]: @talkingrubbishpodcast Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp [https://wa.me/447356069232] on 07356 069 232 Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF

What happens to recycling put in bags?

A Discord discussion prompted us to ask what happens to bagged recycling. During a recent visit to a SUEZ Materials Recovery Facility, we learned that bagged recyclables are often treated as contamination unless staff have time to open them, and some loads can even be rejected if too much material is bagged. While some facilities have bag-splitting equipment, using bags generally increases the risk that recyclable material won't be recycled. As always, check your local authority's guidance, as some collection schemes may be designed to use bags. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 69 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 20th November 2025. While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong. These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast [https://pod.link/1759333374] We would love you to join our community on Discord [https://discord.gg/8eP3FtfhPf] Special thanks to our sponsor, Ecosurety [https://www.ecosurety.com/] To get exclusive videos and clips, follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rubbishpodcast/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@rubbishpodcast], X [https://x.com/rubbishpodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@rubbishpodcast] or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/rubbishpodcast/]; @rubbishpodcast or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@talkingrubbishpodcast]: @talkingrubbishpodcast Or you can contact James and Robbie with questions or just general rubbish musings using the email address talkingrubbishpodcast@gmail.com or by texting them via WhatsApp [https://wa.me/447356069232] on 07356 069 232 Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF