Episode 116: Stephen Cameron, Managing Director at Change Waste Recycling

Episode 116: Stephen Cameron, Managing Director at Change Waste Recycling

This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Stephen Cameron, Managing Director at Change Waste Recycling, to discuss business growth, source-segregated recycling, food waste, and the challenges of getting people to use existing waste systems properly. Stephen shares his journey into the waste sector, which began after the 2008 financial crash when he joined a small waste business on a short-term contract. What started as a temporary opportunity turned into a long-term career, helping grow SWR Newstar from a small unknown company into a major UK waste broker before eventually moving to Change Waste Recycling. The conversation explores the work of Change Waste Recycling, which operates from Edinburgh and Glasgow, employing 77 people and servicing over 3,000 customer sites each month. The business collects materials including food waste, paper, cardboard, plastics, glass and general waste, with a strong focus on keeping materials separate to improve quality and recycling outcomes. Stephen explains how Change Waste Recycling’s model differs from traditional mixed recycling collections. By encouraging customers to separate materials such as fibre, plastics and cans at source, the company can provide cleaner recyclables and help customers better understand what they are producing. He also discusses the practical challenges businesses face, especially in busy city centres where space is limited and waste collections need to work around daily operations. A key theme throughout the episode is the importance of using the systems we already have more effectively. Stephen argues that the UK’s waste and recycling systems are not necessarily broken — but they are often used badly. From food waste still ending up in residual bins to poor segregation in public spaces, the conversation highlights how much could improve if people simply used existing services properly. Food waste is a major focus, with Stephen and Alasdair discussing the huge financial and environmental benefits of separating it correctly. As Stephen explains, the true cost of food waste is not just disposal — it is the cost of buying food in the first place and then throwing it away. For businesses, better segregation can help reveal where waste is being generated and where savings can be made. Stephen also shares honest reflections from his career, including the excitement of growing a business, the lessons learned from difficult contract mobilisations, and why he enjoys working in smaller, agile businesses where decisions can have a visible impact. Looking ahead, he sees waste as a fascinating and secure industry with huge opportunities for young people. Despite growing automation and AI, Stephen believes waste will always need people, innovation and practical problem-solving. A thoughtful and engaging episode covering recycling, business growth, food waste, customer behaviour and why doing the simple things properly could make a huge difference. Useful Links Stephen Cameron | LinkedIn [https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r06/___https:/www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-cameron-78a9482a/___.ZXV3MjphbGJpb25lbnZpcm9ubWVudGFsMTpjOm86OWFjMzM2YmQzNjBjN2ZlNTFiOWZlOGVmNDhjMTdkOWI6NzplYzNmOmQzZjYyYzQxN2Q0ZjFjMDBkZjVjZGJkZWFiYjFkN2I5MzE5OTMzMTIwZTgyY2VlNTFiNDkzZjE1ZDNlYzc0Mjk6aDpUOkY] Change Waste Recycling | LinkedIn [https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r06/___https:/www.linkedin.com/company/change-waste-recycling-ltd/___.ZXV3MjphbGJpb25lbnZpcm9ubWVudGFsMTpjOm86OWFjMzM2YmQzNjBjN2ZlNTFiOWZlOGVmNDhjMTdkOWI6NzphOGQ5OjVkOGY1YzFmMGMzYjJhMTMwYWYzNTk4ZjIzMmM3MzJjNTBjYzFlOTA1NmRmYTQxNGRlZTFjZDY1OWVjYzVkOTA6aDpUOkY]

Episode 115: Anna Willetts, Environmental Criminal Lawyer & Partner at Gunnercooke

This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Dr Anna Willetts, Partner at Gunnercooke, environmental criminal lawyer, and Immediate Past President of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM). With over 15 years of experience advising businesses on environmental compliance and enforcement, Anna brings a unique combination of legal expertise, a PhD in landfill engineering, and experience as an environmental consultant. This gives her a fascinating perspective on the challenges facing the waste and resource sector today. Anna shares her journey into the industry, from studying landfill engineering and working in consultancy to becoming a specialist environmental lawyer. Along the way, she has worked with businesses across the sector, helping them navigate complex legislation, regulatory investigations and enforcement action. A major focus of the conversation is waste crime and the increasing public attention on large-scale illegal waste sites. Anna discusses the role of regulators, organised crime groups and the wider challenges involved in tackling environmental offending. She reflects on the importance of ensuring enforcement is targeted effectively, while also supporting legitimate operators who are trying to do the right thing. Alasdair and Anna also explore how environmental regulation has evolved over the years, the growing complexity of compliance requirements, and the challenges businesses face in managing duty of care responsibilities across increasingly complicated supply chains. The discussion covers digital waste tracking, battery fires, disposable vapes and the practical realities of balancing environmental protection with day-to-day operations. The episode also touches on Anna’s time as President of CIWM, the importance of collaboration across the sector, and why attracting and supporting the next generation of waste professionals is more important than ever. Throughout the conversation, Anna highlights the critical role the waste industry plays in protecting both the environment and public health. A fascinating and thought-provoking discussion covering waste crime, environmental law, regulation, recycling and the future of resource management.

Episode 114: Vapes, Fires & Waste News Roundup

This week on Rubbish Talk, Jane and Alasdair return with another packed news roundup, focusing on one of the waste sector's biggest ongoing challenges: vapes and lithium batteries. They discuss the impact of the disposable vape ban one year on, proposals for a £5 vape deposit scheme, and the worrying rise in fires linked to e-cigarettes despite increased awareness campaigns. The conversation explores why batteries continue to end up in household bins and what more can be done to improve collection and recycling rates. The episode also covers a range of other waste sector stories, including Egypt's famous "Garbage City", the potential cost implications of extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to Energy from Waste facilities, progress towards the UK's Deposit Return Scheme, and the latest update on the clean-up of one of Europe's largest illegal waste sites. As always, Jane and Alasdair finish with a rant, returning to the issue of batteries in bins and the ongoing fire risk facing the waste industry. A wide-ranging discussion covering recycling, waste crime, policy developments, sustainability, and the importance of getting batteries and vapes recycled properly. For news links please head the episode on our website. [https://rubbishtalk.co.uk/category/rubbishtalk-podcasts/]

Episode 113: by Solomon Ede, Senior Enforcement Officer at West Lothian Council

This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Solomon Ede, Senior Enforcement Officer at West Lothian Council and Scottish Executive Representative for LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee). Solomon shares his journey into the waste sector, from working in Ghana to helping shape waste and recycling discussions across Scotland. Drawing on experiences from two very different waste management systems, he offers a unique perspective on how attitudes, infrastructure, and policy can influence environmental outcomes The conversation explores the importance of education, engagement, and behavioural change in improving recycling and reducing environmental crime. Solomon explains why helping people understand the impact of their actions is often more effective than enforcement alone. Alasdair and Solomon also discuss littering, fly-tipping, and the challenges local authorities face when trying to tackle environmental offences. They reflect on the need for stronger support, better collaboration, and more effective systems to help councils deliver meaningful change. One of the most interesting parts of the discussion centres around Solomon's experiences working in both Ghana and the UK. He reflects on how waste management systems have evolved in Ghana over the last two decades, moving from largely informal collection and disposal methods towards more structured services and infrastructure. The comparison highlights both how far the UK has come and the importance of continuing to improve existing systems rather than taking them for granted. The episode also explores the role of empathy in environmental enforcement. Solomon shares how frontline interactions with residents have shaped his approach to the job, explaining why understanding individual circumstances and communicating effectively can often achieve better outcomes than simply issuing penalties. His experiences provide a valuable insight into the human side of waste management and environmental compliance. The discussion also covers the role of LARAC, the importance of local authority voices in policy development, and some of the key challenges facing the sector in the years ahead, including plastics, recycling performance, and public engagement. A thoughtful conversation covering behavioural change, enforcement, recycling, policy, and the future of waste management in Scotland.

Episode 112: Connor Benton & Serena Powell, Go4Greener

This week on Rubbish Talk, Alasdair is joined by Connor Benton and Serena Powell from Go4Greener, a Derby-based hazardous waste company specialising in everything from commodity recycling and WEEE to hazardous waste treatment and innovative new technologies. The conversation explores the wide range of activities carried out at Go4Greener, including hazardous waste handling, WEEE dismantling, and their exciting new Advetec aerobic digestion system, which is being used to process offensive hygiene waste such as nappies and sanitary products into SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel) as an alternative to fossil fuels. Serena explains her role as both site chemist and site manager, covering everything from hazardous waste testing and classification to operations, health and safety, and customer site visits. She shares how she originally studied chemistry without ever considering the waste sector as a career option, before taking a chance on a hazardous waste role near home — and quickly realising just how varied and interesting the industry could be. Connor, now Technical Director, also entered the sector by accident through an apprenticeship, before becoming fascinated by the complexity and scale of the waste industry. Together, they discuss how waste management offers a huge variety of career paths, combining technical knowledge, operations, logistics, compliance and commercial work all within one industry. One of the main topics of the episode is Go4Greener’s new Advetec XL22 system. The technology uses an aerobic digestion process to treat offensive hygiene waste over a 72-hour period, reducing moisture content and converting the remaining material into SRF suitable for use in cement kilns. Connor explains how the process works, from shredding and adding a biological stimulant through to controlled heating and continuous monitoring of moisture levels and emissions. The pair also discuss the challenges of bringing innovative technology into the waste sector, including the lengthy permitting process and the barriers companies can face when trying to introduce new ideas. Serena reflects on the experience of helping secure the permit for the Advetec plant, while Connor highlights the importance of regulators and industry working together to support innovation rather than automatically saying no to new approaches. The discussion also touches on battery recycling, WEEE dismantling, and the growing concern around lithium batteries and vapes. Connor explains that while Go4Greener can safely collect and store many battery types, there are still limited treatment options within the UK, meaning a significant amount of waste continues to be exported overseas for processing. Both guests reflect on the future of the industry and the importance of education — not just for the public, but also for students and young professionals who may never realise the opportunities available within the waste sector. Serena highlights that waste management was never mentioned during her chemistry degree, despite being an ideal career path for many science graduates looking for something more hands-on and varied. A brilliant episode covering hazardous waste, innovation, recycling technology and careers in the sector — and a great insight into the people and processes helping drive the industry forward.